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LIFE AND TIMES 



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CONTAINING 

SKETCHES OE EARLY METHODIST PREACHERS IN INDIANA, AND 

NOTICES OE THE INTRODUCTION AND PROGRESS OE 

METHODISM IN THE STATE; 

ALSO, INCLUDING 



HIS ORIGINAL LETTERS, ENTITLED, "A HELP TO THE 
PERFORMANCE OF MINISTERIAL DUTIES." 



$*ir, f. <L JflUtoas, % fL 



EDITED BY REV. D. W. CLARK, D, D, 




dutjcxnuatt: 

PUBLISHED BY L. SWORMSTEDT & A. POE, 

FOR THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, AT THE WESTERN BOOK CONCERN, 
CORN'ER OF MAIN AND EIGHTH STREETS. 



IX. P. THOMPSON, PRINTER. 

1853. 






Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, 
BY L. SWORMSTEDT & A. POE, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
District of Ohio. 



\ 



PREFACE 



Since the death of Eev. Allen Wiley, a desire 
has been repeatedly expressed by many of his nu- 
merous friends, that some more extended account 
of his life and labors should be given to the public 
than has yet appeared. The conference of which 
he was a member, at its first session subsequent to 
his death, appointed a committee to report on the 
practicability of publishing a biography of "Wiley. 
But, owing to the paucity of materials for such a 
work, the committee reported unfavorably. Many 
of his friends, still believing that such an account 
of his life and labors could be given to the public 
as would prove both acceptable and useful, urged 
the author to undertake the task of its preparation. 
Yielding to the judgment of those whose opinions 
he has long been accustomed to respect, he has 
endeavored to furnish, under the convenient title 
of "The Life and Times of Eev. Allen Wiley," 
such an account of his life and labors as the facts 
at his command would enable him to do, and to 
furnish brief sketches of a number of his coad- 
jutors who have " ceased from their labors," and 
such notices of the progress of the Church in Indi- 

3 



* PREFACE. 

ana as will serve to show what, under God, has 
been accomplished by the Methodist ministry. The 
work also contains outlines of ten sermons of Eev. 
Allen Wiley, and his original letters to ministers, 
entitled, " A help to the performance of ministerial 
duties in the Methodist Episcopal Church." 

The author trusts that the work will not be sub- 
jected to the ordeal of rigid criticism. The re- 
corded materials for the historical part of the work 
are very slight ; for, brief as is the period since the 
introduction of Methodism into the west, it is diffi- 
cult to procure well-authenticated accounts of the 
formation of many of its first societies, as well as 
of the labor and peril of many of its first ministers. 

Anxious to save from utter loss many evanishing 
reminiscences, the author has recorded some things . 
which the reader may regard as irrelevant. But it 
should be borne in mind that this work is neither 
strictly historical nor biographical, and rather a 
compilation of data than a continuous narrative 
arranged according to the rigid rules of historical 
composition. The author is indebted to the pub- 
lished Minutes of the Conferences, to conference 
documents, and to Wiley's account of the intro- 
duction of Methodism into south-eastern Indiana, 
for much of his data. Others have been received 
by correspondence from sources which will soon 
be inaccessible. 

We are accustomed to honor the hardy pioneers 
who first settled the great west — who, in defiance 
of the dangers of savage warfare, the terrors of 
the wilderness, and the privations and hardships 
incident to a frontier life, dotted these broad val- 



PREFACE. O 

leys all over with their cabin homes. They had 
faith in human progress, and the lapse of one gen 
eration has sufficed to realize more than their bright- 
est visions of future prosperity and competence. 
The biographer and historian have recorded their 
perils, their virtues, and their deeds of noble dar- 
ing; but, as yet, little has been recorded of that 
noble class of pioneers^ equally chivalrous and more 
self-sacrificing, who visited our fathers in their cabin 
homes, bringing with them the message of salva- 
tion. Their position, though one of toil and pri- 
vation, was one of moral sublimity. They were 
laboring for posterity. Spurning the luxuries of 
life, the refinements of taste and elegance, the com- 
forts of ease and affluence, and the allurements of 
the world, actuated by that spirit which brought 
the Savior from heaven to earth, they heeded not 
the dangers of the wilderness, and often exposed 
themselves to the deadly rifle and scalping-knife 
of the savage, that they might light up the log- 
cabin and the fort with the lamp of truth, and 
cause the voice of prayer and praise to arise from 
the deepest solitudes of the wilderness. Some of 
them descended to the tomb in the meridian of life, 
leaving scarcely a memorial of their resting-place 
or a stone to tell where they lie. But they have left 
a monument more enduring than marble, in the 
glorious fruit of their labors. Society owes them 
a debt of gratitude lasting as time. Hoping that 
the present work may stimulate other and abler 
pens to rescue from oblivion the memory of those 
moral heroes who, as "spiritual leaders of the for- 
lorn liope, under the command of the great ' Cap- 

1* 



PREFACE 



tain of our salvation,' guided the Church to battle 
and to victory," the author submits it to the public, 
praying that the Divine blessing may accompany it, 
without which all our labor is vain. 



CONTENTS. 



fart jFtrat. 



CHAPTER I. 

Moral heroism should command our highest esteem — Character of the 
early Methodist preachers in Indiana — Advantages of studying Christian 
biography — Rev. Allen Wiley — Place of his birth — Emigrates to Ken- 
tucky—State of the country — Removes to the vicinity of Lexington — • 
School privileges — Removes to Indiana — Prevailing disease of the cli- 
mate — Reflections on the state of society — Wiley's marriage — Influence 
of family religion Page 15 

CHAPTER II. 
Death of Mrs. Wiley's father — Wiley begins to read the Bible and pray 
in his family — Distress of mind on the subject of religion — Unhappy 
effects of the doctrine of predestination — Becomes acquainted with Rev. 
Moses Crume — Obtains a copy of the small Scriptural Catechism, and a 
copy of the Methodist Discipline, containing Coke's and Asbury's Explan- 
atory Notes — Joins the Methodist Episcopal Church — Perplexed on the 
subject of baptism— Is baptized by pouring — Experiences religion during 
a love-feast 23 

CHAPTER III. 
Wiley's Call to the ministry — Is employed to travel with Bigelow on 
Lawrenceburg circuit — Is admitted on trial into the traveling connection 
and appointed to Lawrenceburg circuit — An extraordinary meeting at 
Wiley's house under the ministry of Bigelow — Remarkable conversion of 
an infidel lady — Revival of religion in Switzerland county — A backslidden 
local preacher reclaimed. 27 

CHAPTER IV. 

Early camp meetings — Camp meeting in the White Water country in 

1808 — Camp meeting near Madison in 1817 — Camp meeting on Hogan 

creek, between Wilmington and Aurora, in 1817— A plea for camp 

meetings 32 

7 



8 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER V. 
Rev. Allen. Wiley's career as a circuit preacher — A thrilling incident — 
Text at a funeral — Outline of a sermon on the word religion Page 38 

CHAPTER VI. 

Wiley's first eleven years in the ministry — Progress of Methodism — 
Rev. William Cravens — Temperance and antislavery principles — Conver- 
sion of an infidel — Anecdotes of Cravens — Wiley's temperance resolu- 
tions — The Church an embodiment of moral power — Death of Cravens -42 

CHAPTER YII. 
Privations and hardships of early preachers — Shrader on Silver Creek 
circuit — Extent of the circuit — Xew preaching-places — Extensive revi- 
val — Pilots Bishop M'Kendree to the seat of Missouri conference — Sick- 
ness — Appointed to Spring River circuit, Arkansas — Account of the coun- 
try, the people, etc. — Description of the mode of preparing breadstuff — 
Camp meeting on the bank of the Arkansas river — Dr. Oglesby's second 
appointment from the conference — Perils in the wilderness — Providential 
deliverance — Extent of his circuit — Explores the Missouri country — Visits 
Daniel Boone — Preaches at Boone's Lick — Early Jesuit Missionaries — 
Their reports — Central idea of Romanism — Central idea of Methodism — 
Protestantism favorable to free institutions 49 

CHAPTER VIII. 
Wiley is appointed presiding elder on Madison district — Extent of the 
district — Revival on Lawrenceburg circuit under the labors of X. B. 
Griffith and E. G. Wood — Radical secession at Madison — Camp meeting 
on Pendleton circuit — Baptism of a sick man — Wiley continues on Madi- 
son district — His views in reference to the division of the larger fields of 
labor — Anecdote of a Roman farmer — Wiley's perseverance as a student — 
Visits Fort Wayne — Sketch of the character and labors of Rev. John 
Strange 56 

CHAPTER IX. 

Division of theBlinois conference — First session of the Indiana confer- 
ence — Report on Education — Subsequent action of the conference on the 
subject — Memorial to the state Legislature relative to the state univer- 
sity — Defense of the Memorial — Its failure — Founding of Indiana Asbury 
University — Success of the enterprise — Origin of the Preacher's Aid 
Society — Action of the Indiana conference on the resolutions of the 
General conference relative to a division of the Book Concern with the 
Canada conference — Wiley appointed to Indianapolis district — Reappointed 
to Madison district — Delegates to the General conference of 1S3G 67 

CHAPTER X. 
Wiley publishes a series of articles addressed to ministers — His style 
as a preacher — Is stationed in New Albany — Wiley as u pastor — Is ap- 



CONTENTS. 9 

pointed presiding elder of Crawfordsville district — His feelings, and an 
account of his district — Sickness, etc. — Preaches the funeral of Eev. B. N. 
Barnes — Notice of Mr. Barnes — Temperance resolutions by the confer- 
ence — Wiley is stationed in Indianapolis — Anniversary of the centenary 
of Methodism — The eighth annual session of the conference is held in 
Lawrenceburg — Dr. Simpson's Centenary Sermon — Conference at Indian- 
apolis — Unprecedented increase in the membership of the Church — Wiley 
is appointed to Greencastle district — Conference at Terre Haute — Portrait 
of Bishop Roberts Page 76 

CHAPTER XI. 

Wiley is stationed in Madison — Session of the conference at Centerville, 
1842 — Action relative to a division of the conference — Formation of a new 
charge in Indianapolis — History of Church extension in Indianapolis — 
Wiley is appointed to Connersville district — Session of conference at 
Crawfordsville — Delegates to General conference — Conference resolutions 
on the death of Bishop Roberts — Sketch of his labors, etc. — Conference at 
Madison — Close of Wiley's term on Brookville district — Writes the Intro- 
duction and Progress of Methodism in south-eastern Indiana — Is stationed 
at Centenary Church, New Albany — Notices of Beauchamp, Stevenson, 
Locke, Griffith, Armstrong, and Ray 84 

CHAPTER XII. 
Rev. Allen Wiley superannuates in 1847 — Review of his life and char- 
acter — Letter to his family — Letter to a criminal under sentence of 
death — His style as a preacher — Writes the Pastoral Address on behalf 
of his conference — Death of Wiley 101 

CHAPTER XIII. 
Review of Methodism in Indiana down to 1850 — Its numbers, literary 
institutions, etc. — Communication of Bishop Ames — Causes of the suc- 
cess of Methodism — Difficulties in the way of its progress — Its present 
position 123 

CHAPTER XIV. 

Outlines of ten sermons by Rev. A. Wiley, furnished as specimens of 
his style of pulpit preparation 136 



10 CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

The importance of general information to a Gospel minister. • ■ Page 157 

CHAPTER II. 
The importance of Biblical knowledge and pulpit preparation to a min- 
ister, and the prudent and earnest manner of his delivery 164 

CHAPTER III. 
The necessity of system and diligence in study to acquire the informa- 
tion necessary to a minister 170 

CHAPTER IV. 
Of the matter and manner of preaching 175 

CHAPTER V. 
The duties of meeting the classes and visiting the sick 181 

CHAPTER VI. 

The gravity of a minister, and his prudence in female society, and the 
propriety of delay in getting married 187 

CHAPTER VII. 
A minister should not be hasty in forming and expressing his opin- 
ions — He should admonish faithfully — He should be a modest, humble 
man, who should not be ashamed to wait on himself .195 

CHAPTER VIII. 
A minister should be a punctual man — He should observe the Disci- 
pline of the Church without fear of punishment, and execute it without 
unkind feelings to others. -00 

CHAPTER IX. 
Several directions in section nine, chapter one, of the Discipline, to 
which a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church should be submiss- 
ive, a s he has promised so to be 206 

CHAPTER X. 
The duties of those who have charge of circuits 213 



CONTENTS. 11 

CHAPTER XI. 
Duties of those who have charge of circuits — The distributiou and re- 
newal of the tickets — Advantages of — Band meetings — The importance of 
circuit stewards, and the manner in which the preacher should treat them 
and the leaders. Pagk 219 

CHAPTER XII. 

The preacher's duty to appoint, remove, change, and instruct class- 
leaders 225 

CHAPTER XIII. 
The duties of the preacher in the reception of members 231 

CHAPTER XIV. 
The duties of the preacher in expelling members from the Church- -238 

CHAPTER XV. 
The duty of the preacher in charge to hold watch-nights, love-feasts, 
quarterly meetings, and to supply his circuit with books and periodi- 
cals 245 

CHAPTER XVI. 
The preacher's duty to take the numbers in his charge — To give the pre- 
siding elder a quarterly account of the state of his charge — To overlook 
the accounts of the stewards — To appoint class collectors — To make quar- 
terly collections — To make missionary collections. 252 

CHAPTER XVII. 
The duty of preachers in charge to promote the Bible, Sunday school, 
and tract cause, and the erection of meeting-houses in their respective 
charges 259 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

The preacher to furnish his successor a correct plan of the circuit — To 
see that our people do not lose their membership by removal — To use his 
influence that our people may be cleanly and decent — To read the general 
rules to the societies and congregations — To appoint prayer meetings — To 
see that our people fast on the Eriday prior to each quarterly meeting — 
To license suitable persons to exhort. 266 

CHAPTER XIX. 
The importance of the presiding eldership — The appointing power in 
the bishop, and properly so — The duties of the presiding elder, and of the 
quarterly conference in which he presides. 273 



12 CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER XX. 
Duties and importance of presiding elders continued — A little personal 
history — The excellency and wished-for perpetuity of the economy of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church — An address intended for the Illinois confer- 
ence at Bloomington, la., in the fall of 1826 Page 281 

CHAPTER XXI. 
Conclusion « 290 



fart Jfirst. 

LIFE AND TIMES OF REV. ALLEN WILEY. 



LIFE AND TIMES 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 



CHAPTER I. 

Moral heroism should command our highest esteem — Character of the 
early Methodist preachers in Indiana — Advantages of studying Christian 
biography — Rev. Allen Wiley — Place of his birth — Emigrates to Ken- 
tucky — State of the country — Removes to the vicinity of Lexington- 
School privileges — Removes to Indiana — Prevailing disease of the cli- 
mate — Reflections on the state of society — Wiley's marriage — Influence 
of family religion. 

There are names that should not be forgotten and 
deeds that ought to be remembered. The successful 
general, who has led his brave troops to victory on 
many a hard-fought battle-field, will not want for biog- 
raphers. His path to victory may have been strewn with 
the mangled, the dying, and the dead; still he was 
brave and successful. Cities in ruins, agriculture sus- 
pended, commerce crippled, and a million hearts made 
desolate by the loss of friends, may all be the result of 
his victories. But, because he was victorious, the trumpet 
of fame proclaims, with clarion blast, the greatness of his 
deeds. That which is bold in conception, fearless and 
vigorous in execution, ever commands admiration, irre- 
spective of its moral character. Hence, the lion, though 
ferocious and terrible, is, among men, an emblem of 
greatness and nobility, while the patient and vigilant 

15 



1G LIFE AND TIMES OF 

watch -dog, who guards his master's dwelling through 
the long hours of night from the approach of the thief 
and the incendiary, is the type of all that is low and 
mean. 

There is a moral heroism that is not sufficiently studied 
and admired. In this land, where we have no hereditary 
honors, and where so little importance is attached to pri- 
mogeniture — where nature, education, and grace issue 
the only patents of nobility — he is the true hero who, in 
spite of circumstances, rises to wisdom and usefulness, or 
who, in surveying the state of society around him, finds 
his heart moved at the sight of the desolation which sin 
has wrought, resolves, in the strength of Him who gave 
him a heart to feel and the ability to will, that Lis efforts 
shall not cease till that moral waste shall bloom in Eden's 
loveliness, and who pursues his object, through opposition, 
and privation, and peril, with a devotion as true as the 
needle to the pole, till success crowns his efforts, or death 
terminates his career. Such moral heroes have blessed 
our country. Many of them have gone to their reward ; 
but the fruit of their labor remains. They have shown 
us what man can be and what man can do. More than 
this — as the result of their cheerful self-denial and patient 
toil, they have left us a rich legacy, in the domestic quiet, 
the social order, and the public prosperity with which we 
are surrounded; for in a free government these can only 
result from intelligence and virtue. 

The pioneers of religious truth in Indiana exerted an 
influence upon the minds, manners, and morals of our 
early population, which time will never efface. Theirs 
was the high privilege of molding society while in the 
transition state ; for society, like the individual, has its 
different states and stages of progress — its infancy, and 
its maturity, and its transition state from rudeness to 
refinement. During this transition state, which corre- 



KEV. ALLEN WILEY. 17 

sponds to the period of education in the individual man, 
society takes on, in a type more or less distinct and with 
great permanence, whatever influences may be exerted 
upon it; for early influences upon society, like impres- 
sions upon the youthful mind, are most permanent and 
influential. Indiana was fortunate in this respect. Those 
who directed the religious mind and led on the religious 
movements of the day were earnest and sincere men. 
None suspected, for a moment, that they were actuated 
by sinister or selfish motives. There was, in their man- 
ner, a directness of purpose which showed at once their 
sincerity. They were men of large views and high 
resolves. They knew that these broad valleys would 
soon teem with a crowded and busy population; and 
hence, in the nucleus of every growing settlement, and 
on the site of every rising town, they planted the stand- 
ard of the cross. Theirs was no temporizing policy. 
Other communities, in the early periods of their history, 
have been cursed with a time-serving and sometimes a 
dram-drinking ministry — a ministry lacking the nerve to 
confront vice in all its forms. "Widely different from all 
this were the men who preached the Gospel in the cabins 
of the first settlers in Indiana, and planted the Gospel in 
our wilderness land. 

We have said they were earnest men. Their very 
vocation was proof of that. They abandoned all idea 
of ease or wealth. Intent upon their great mission, they 
penetrated the wilderness with cheeks unblenched, and 
met the dangers of flood and field with unquailing eye 
and unflinching nerve. And what though bridgeless 
streams had frequently to be swam, undrained swamps 
to be crossed ; and what though they should occasionally 
have to lodge in a wilderness, with a stone for their pil- 
low and the canopy of heaven for their covering — they 
believed that He who watched over Jacob in the wil- 
2* 



18 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

derness of Haran, would watch over them — and, with 
the apostle, they would exclaim, "Xoue of these things 
more us." Diligent in the acquisition of knowledge as 
they were faithful in disseminating and fearless in defend- 
ing the truth, they became wise and able ministers of the 
Gospel. If they had but few books they studied them 
well. Their eloquence was the gushing forth of a heart 
full of emotion; and emotion is the true source of elo- 
quence. They felt the truths which they spoke, and 
hence their influence upon others. 

The study of Christian biography is always profitable ; 
for there we see Christianity in action. Christians are 
living epistles of the truth and power of the Gospel. To 
cherish the memory, revere the virtues, and record the 
deeds of the men who first brought among us the bless- 
ings of the Gospel, and whose labors have made the wil- 
derness and the solitary places glad, and caused the des- 
ert to bud and blossom as the rose, is alike a duty and a 
privilege. 

Prominent anion o- those who labored lono- and well for 

o o 

the improvement of society in Indiana, stands the name 
of Rev. Allen Wiley — a name almost as familiar 
throughout Indiana as household words. His career 
commenced in comparative obscurity. His early oppor- 
tunities for acquiring knowledge were very limited — such 
only as the sons of the adventurous settlers of Kentucky 
enjoyed from 1797 to 1804. And, although when he 
entered the ministry in 1816, he could boast of but the 
ordinary advantages of a common school education, yet, 
with a family dependent upon him, and subjected to the 
numerous disadvantages incident to a residence in a new 
and sparsely-settled country, and burdened with the daily 
and onerous duties of an itinerant preacher, he, neverthe- 
less, attained to ripeness in scholarship, profoundness in 
theological learning, and to a commanding position as 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 19 

an able expositor and defender of the doctrines of Chris- 
tianity. 

For many years previous to his death he was in the 
daily habit of reading portions of the Scriptures in the 
English, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages. He read 
his Hebrew Bible through, with great care. He was 
familiar with profane and sacred history. As a theo- 
logian he ranked as a master; and, although his style 
was rarely ornate, yet with the rules of rhetoric his mind 
was familiar, and in logic and verbal criticism he was 
always at home. To trace the process by which so much 
was accomplished, and mark the stages by which the 
humble backwoodsman became the ripe scholar, the pro- 
found theologian, and the able minister, as well as to 
mark some of the incidents in a life not devoid of inter- 
est, shall be our object in these pages. 

Rev. Allen Wiley was born in Frederick county, Vir- 
ginia, January 15, 1789. His father emigrated to Ken- 
tucky in the spring of 1797, and settled near the present 
site of Petersburg. Allen, of course, received but little 
instruction previous to their leaving the "Old Dominion," 
and at his new home in Kentucky, at that day, schools 
were few and far between. There were then but few 
families on the Indiana side of the Ohio river. Many 
of the Indians were yet hostile; and, after providing for 
the immediate wants of their families and guarding them 
from the incursions of the Indians, the attention of the 
early settlers was directed to such improvements as would 
insure their future comfort and competency, so that but 
little time was left for mental improvement, even if their 
opportunities had been greater than they were. In 1799 
Mr. Wiley removed to Fayette county, in the vicinity of 
Lexington. Here young Allen enjoyed, for a short time, 
the advantages of a school, having for his instructor Wil- 
liam Houston, who subsequently entered the ministry, 



20 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

and has labored for a number of years as a member of 
the Baltimore conference. 

In the fall of 1804 Mr. Wiley removed to Indiana, 
and settled about three miles above the present town of 
Harrison, on White Water, Allen then being in his six- 
teenth year. Here opportunities for school instruction 
were limited to the winter months, the rest of the year 
being devoted to labor on the farm, except the latter part 
of summer, or from the time designated by the phrase 
"laying the corn by," till early frost or corn-gathering 
time — a period in which the chills and fever or the old- 
fashioned ague never failed to pay the early settlers its 
annual visit. But the ague was not attended with much 
mortality, and disappeared at the approach of frost, leav- 
ing the farmer sufficient strength to gather his crop and 
a voracious appetite for his corn-bread, sweet milk, and 
pumpkin pies, luxuries not to be lightly esteemed. Dur- 
ing the winter months, the youth of both sexes would 
flock with eagerness to the log school-house, where the 
Irish pedagogue or the "universal Yankee" dealt out 
lessons in orthography, penmanship, arithmetic, and flog- 
ging, quite indiscriminately to all who might attend. 
The different stages of improvement in society are dis- 
tinctly marked by the character and qualifications of the 
school-teacher. 

First. We have the school -master — the man with whip 
and ferule constantly in hand, whose authority is upheld 
by blows and knocks. Under the reign of these masters, 
there usually occurs, during the Christmas holidays, 
what is termed, " Turnino- out the teacher." The larger 
scholars will assemble at a given hour in the morning, 
and bar the entrance to the school-house, and prevent the 
master's admission, till he will capitulate, by promising 
to treat the school to apples, cakes, or such articles, and 
to such extent as the vox popvii may demand; or, if this 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 21 

is not sufficient, the person of the teacher is secured and 
conveyed to an adjoining stream or pond, where the dan- 
ger of an immediate submersion will secure the Christ- 
mas treat This over, rod and ferule are again rein- 
stalled with absolute authority, and all things move on 
as before. 

Next comes the school-keeper. Easy soul, he is anxious 
to please parents and pupils. Government he has none ; 
of learning he has but little ; and, as a consequence, he 
is "not apt to teach." 

Lastly. We have the school-teacher — the educator 
proper — with blackboard, and maps, and moral suasion 
in the foreground, while corporeal punishment is held as 
a dernier resort. Young men who have been educated 
in the west — a phrase of great ambiguity — have usually 
passed through these stages of social progress from the 
reign of the school-master to the arrival of the school- 
teacher. Young Wiley gave his teachers, what few of 
them he had, but little trouble. He was docile in his 
disposition, and allowed none whose advantages were not 
greatly superior to his, to be in advance of him. He was 
with the foremost in all that he undertook. Nature en- 
dowed him with a good constitution. Exercise in the 
open air, and plain but wholesome diet, had aided in a 
perfect development of his physical powers; and, as his 
health was fine, his spirits flowed freely, and young 
Wiley was usually on good terms with all around him. 
Accustomed from infancy to the hardships and privations 
of frontier life, he knew how to sympathize with the 
backwoodsmen in their cabin homes. He felt that he 
was one of them; and what, to one differently raised, 
would have seemed difficult, was with him a matter of 
course. To cross swollen and rapid streams, destitute 
of bridges and ferries, to find his way through difficult 
and unfrequented paths in the wilderness, were matters to 



22 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

which he was accustomed. And thus Providence gave 
him in youth that kind of training which best fitted him 
for the post that in subsequent years he was called to fill. 
" For planets govern not the soul, nor guide the destiny 
of man." 

Early in 1808 Mr. Wiley was united in marriage to 
Miss Margaret Eades, daughter of James Eades, who was 
one of the earliest settlers on the White Water, having 
settled a few miles below the site of the present town of 
Harrison as early as 1799. In the choice of a companion 
for life, Mr. Wiley was peculiarly fortunate ; his wife 
proved a helpmeet indeed. Mr. Eades's family belonged 
to the Baptist persuasion, and had secured Baptist 
preaching in their neighborhood, which was the first in 
that part of the country. In the house of his father-in- 
law, he was, for the first time, brouo-ht into familiar inter- 

7 7 7 O 

course with family religion. 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 23 



CHAPTER II. 

Death of Mrs. Wiley's father — Wiley begins to read the Bible and pray 
in his family — Distress of mind on the subject of religion — Unhappy 
effects of the doctrine of predestination — Becomes acquainted with Eev. 
Moses Crume — Obtains a copy of the small Scriptural Catechism, and a 
copy of the Methodist Discipline, containing Coke's and Asbury's Explan- 
atory Notes — Joins the Methodist Episcopal Church — Perplexed on the 
subject of baptism — Is baptized by pouring — Experiences religion during 
a love-feast. 

"There are moments in life that are never forgot, 

Which brighten, and brighten, as time steals away. 
0, these hallowed remembrances can not decay; 

But they come on the soul with a magical thrill, 
And in days that are darkest they kindly will stay, 

And the heart in its last throb will beat with them still." 

Such, with the faithful Christian, is the period of his 
early espousal to Christ. In the fall of 1808 Mr. Wi- 
ley's father-in-law died. Two sons of Mr. Eades, who 
lived at a distance, and who were professors of religion, 
visited their mother, and the remainder of the family, 
upon the death of their father. During their stay, one 
of them conducted family prayer with much gravity and 
devotion, which made so powerful an impression upon the 
mind of Mr. Wiley that he resolved to become religious. 
He began immediately to read the Bible — a book to 
which he had paid but little attention. On returning 
home from his mother-in-law's, with his wife and child, 
he attempted family prayer in his own house, which, he 
said, was the first time that he ever kneeled down to 
pray in all his life. He continued this course for several 
months with a greatly- increased desire for salvation. 
But his feelings fluctuated, and his desire for salvation 



24 LIFE AXD TIMES ul 

began to abate, as he was endeavoring to travel alone in 
this, to him, new way. Previous to his marriage he was 
a confirmed fatalist; his religious acquaintances were of 
the Baptist persuasion. His predilections now were in 
favor of that Church, as most of his religious instruction 
had been received from them. They had taught him 
that it would be wrong for him to unite with any Church 
till he had experienced a gracious change upon his heart. 
But with a deep conviction of his sinfulness, there came 
such a sense of moral obligation and of his personal ac- 
countability to God for his actions, as at once overthrew 
all his previous notions about fatality. At this period of 
his existence he said, "I could no longer believe fatality 
nor unconditional election and reprobration." How was 
it possible for him to have such a sense of guilt for actions 
that were the result of necessity, or for having pursued a 
course that had been decreed for him from all eternity, 
unconditionally ? He felt conscious of his moral agency 
and guilt for not having led a different life. And yet his 
previous views excited a bewildering and distracting influ- 
ence upon his mind. In this unhappy state of mind he 
came near abandoning all effort for salvation. For a 
season he would cease to pray almost entirely, and then, 
becoming alarmed at his own indifference, he would 
renew his exertions, and seek, with increased earnest- 
ness, the way of salvation. But he had no one to o-uide 
him; his mind was a prey to conflicting influences, and 
his condition was deplorable. Fortunately, about this 
time he became acquainted with that excellent man of 
God, Rev. Moses Crume. who, that year, had been re- 
moved from the Cincinnati to the White Water circuit, to 
supply the place made vacant on the latter circuit by the 
removal of Thomas Nelson. Mr. Crume had preached 
at Mr. Manwaring's, whose house was the regular 
preaching-place for the Methodists in that part of the 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 25 

White Water country, and his next appointment was some- 
where on the upper waters of the Dry Fork, a tributary 
of White Water; but as he was unacquainted with the 
nearest route — it being but a pathway — Mr. Wiley volun- 
teered to pilot him about seven miles on his way. During 
this short journey, they had much conversation on the 
subject of religion, and, at parting, Mr. Wiley desired to 
purchase a copy of the small Scriptural Catechism pub- 
lished by the Methodist Church, and which the preachers 
usually carried for sale. Mr. Crume declined selling him 
a copy, but made him a present of one. This little book, 
he remarked in after years, ** laid the foundation of my 
present theological knowledge." This little book cor- 
rected his false notions about fatality, predestination, etc., 
and gave him Scriptural views of the plan of salvation. 
Mr. Crume exhorted him to go forward, assuring him 
that one cause of his perplexity was his neglect of duty. 
He now commenced afresh, and with more earnestness 
than ever, to seek the Lord. He had none of his friends 
to counsel and encourage him. His two brothers-in-law, 
who were religious, resided at a distance. He felt that 
his way was dark and his efforts feeble ; still he struggled 
on. At length he borrowed a copy of the Methodist Dis- 
cipline, which contained Coke's and Asbury's explanatory 
notes. This he read with great care, and found fault 
with a few things of minor importance in it. He stated 
his objections to Mr. Crume, who, at this time, was his 
only religious instructor, except his Scripture Catechism. 
Mr. Crume removed his objections, and Wiley finally con- 
cluded to join the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he 
did, with much fear and trembling, on the 18th of April, 
1810, being then in the twenty -second year of his age. 
His earliest religious impressions were among the Bap- 
tists; and, as might have been expected, his mind was 
perplexed on the subject of immersion — not but what the 



26 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Methodists would have cheerfully immersed him; but 
they held that immersion was not the exclusive mode of 
Christian baptism; and, if not, the question presented 
itself fairly to his mind, Which of the different modes is 
the most Scriptural and proper? After much mental 
exercise on the subject, he became satisfied not only that 
sprinkling or pouring was a valid mode of baptism, but 
that infant baptism was both right and proper. Accord- 
ingly he and his two eldest children were baptized by 
Moses Crume, by pouring, about one year after he had 
joined the Church. 

When he joined the Methodists he well knew that his 
course would subject him to much reproach, which, how- 
ever, as it is frequently the case, was the very thing that 
he needed, as it cut him off from the world, and brought 
him into close intercourse with the people of God. 

Some time in the summer after he joined the Church, 
at a love-feast, under the concluding prayer, the Lord 
blessed him with a satisfactory assurance that his sins 
were pardoned, and that he was measurably made a new 
creature. But he did not receive that clear and powerful 
evidence of his gracious state that many do ; but his 
assurance was a Gradual work, and continued to increase 
to the close of life. 

Mr. Wiley is believed to be the first person who was 
both converted and licensed to preach the Gospel in Indi- 
ana. When Wiley joined the Church there were but few 
circuits in Indiana, and the total number of Methodists in 
the state was considerably less than two thousand. 






KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 27 



CHAPTER III. 

Wiley's Call to the ministry — Is employed to travel with Bigelow on 
Lawrenceburg circuit — Is admitted on trial into the traveling connection 
and appointed to Lawrenceburg circuit — An extraordinary meeting at 
Wiley's house under the ministry of Bigelow — Remarkable conversion of 
an infidel lady — Revival of religion in Switzerland county — A backslidden 
local preacher reclaimed. 

" He was a man, by God, 
The Lord, commissioned to make known to men 
The eternal counsels — in the Master's name, 
To treat with them of everlasting things. 

The elders of the Church, 
Indeed, upon him laid their hands, and set 
Him visibly apart, to preach the word 
Of life, but this was merely outward rite 
And decent ceremonial. His call, 
His consecration, his anointing, all 
Were inward, in the conscience heard and felt." 

Shortly after Wiley's conversion lie felt deeply im- 
pressed that it was his duty to preach the Gospel. But 
he believed in the outward as well as the inward call, 
or that whenever God called an individual to the per- 
formance of a particular work, that he would open his 
way before him. He did not have to wait long for the 
outward call. The preachers and people were alike con- 
vinced that it was his duty to preach. He was accord- 
ingly licensed to exhort the next year after he joined the 
Church, and at the quarterly meeting conference held 
for that circuit, July, 1813, he was licensed as a local 
preacher. 

In 1816 Russel Bigelow was appointed to Lawrence- 
burg circuit alone. His circuit was large, embracing 
what now constitutes the Lawrenceburg, a large portion 



28 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

of the Madison, and a part of the Brookville districts. 
Over this extensive territory Bigelow traveled every four 
weeks. Bigelow was zealous and successful. His word 
was in the demonstration of the Spirit and power. The 
people felt every- where that he came to them in the full- 
ness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ ; but the cir- 
cuit was too large for one man. Four weeks was too 
long an interval between appointments. Bigelow was 
anxious for a colleague, and his discerning eye fell on 
Wiley as a suitable person. He accordingly presented 
the subject to Wiley, and urged him to enter the itiner- 
ant ministry. But there were numerous difficulties in the 
way. He had but a few months previous removed to a 
new home in the wild woods, at least two miles from any 
other dwelling. He was poor, and had a wife and five 
children dependent upon him; and, among other objec- 
tions, Wiley urged the unwillingness of his wife for him 
to enter the traveling connection. Bigelow asked him if 
he would be willing, provided his wife would give her 
consent. Thinking himself safe in that condition, he 
answered, " Yes." Bigelow immediately laid the matter 
before Mrs. Wiley, who, to the astonishment of her hus- 
band, readily gave her consent. His last excuse was now 
removed, and Wiley commenced making preparations for 
the work upon which he was about to enter. With the 
consent of his presiding elder he commenced his itinerant 
career, on the first day of December. 1816. 

Bigelow and Wiley were united in the bonds of friend- 
ship as closely as David and Jonathan. They gave them- 
selves to God and his work, and God greatly blessed their 
labors. Although Wiley intended to travel for but three 
months when he started, before that time had expired, he 
felt that God had called him to the work in which he was 
enixa^ed; and when he would think of deserting, these 
words would seem to sound in his ears, and be constantly 






KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 29 

presented to his mind, "It is not reason that we should 
leave the word of God and serve tables," and thus he con- 
tinued to travel to the end of the year. At the last quar- 
terly meeting conference for the circuit, for that year, he 
consented that they might recommend him to the Ohio 
conference as a suitable person to be received on trial in 
the traveling connection, and he was accordingly received 
in the summer of 1817, and was appointed to Lawrence- 
burg circuit with Samuel West, who had charge of the 
circuit. 

There were several incidents connected with Wiley's 
first year on Lawrenceburg circuit in connection with 
Bigelow that are worthy of record. Although their cir- 
cuit extended from the vicinity of Brookville down to 
Madison, on the Ohio river, during the year they en- 
larged its bounds considerably, and added a number of 
new appointments. At several points on the circuit there 
were glorious revivals of religion. Wiley's own house 
became a preaching-place ; and although, a few months 
previous, there was not a dwelling within two miles of 
his, yet, in the course of the year, such was the immigra- 
tion, and such the work of God among the new-comers, 
that a society of forty was raised up. 

One night, when there was an appointment for Bigelow 
to preach at Wiley's house, a crowd collected, and, under 
the first prayer the power of God was manifested among 
the people, and many began to cry for mercy ; and so 
great was their distress that preaching was dispensed 
with, and penitents were invited to the mourner's bench, 
and great was the work of the Lord among the people. 

At Allensville, a little town in the northern part of 
Switzerland county, there was a glorious revival of relig- 
ion. One day Wiley was preaching from the text, " The 
eyes of the Lord are over the righteous," etc. In the 
exposition of his text he remarked that when the Scrip- 

3* 



30 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

tures ascribe eyes, and hands, and other bodily parts to 
the Deity, they were not to be understood literally, but 
as expressive of attributes and operations of the Deity. 
There was present a lady who had been a confirmed 
Deist for many years, who had supposed that Christians 
believed all such expressions were to be understood as 
physically descriptive of God, and she had always re- 
garded with contempt such a petty and local God as 
these expressions seemed to intimate the God of the 
Bible to be. She began to think more seriously about 
the Bible and its doctrines than she had formerly done. 
Shortly after, she was riding alone in the woods, and a 
limb fell from a tree which came near striking her, and in 
her fright she exclaimed, " Lord Jesus!" This alarmed 
her the more to think that she should invoke a name for 
which she felt no respect. This incident fastened con- 
viction upon her mind. Not long afterward she went to 
hear Bigelow preach, and the Lord powerfully convicted 
her soul; and this was soon followed by a powerful 
revival of religion all over the neighborhood. There 
had settled in the vicinity of Buchanan's station — a post 
nearly midway between the present town of Versailles 
and Madison — a man by the name of John Richey, who 
had been a local preacher in Kentucky, but who had got 
out of the Church, and was a miserable backslider. He 
came to hear Wiley, and remained after the sermon, and 
conversed with the preacher about his condition. He 
stated that he had not heard a traveling preacher preach 
for some years, and that he had not read a chapter in the 
Bible for three years — that it tortured him beyond endur- 
ance to read the Bible. Two weeks after, when Bigelow 
came around, he joined the Church, and, in a short time, 
was reclaimed, and was made class-leader, then exhorter, 
and then local preacher. He was for years one of the 
most popular and useful local preachers in all the land. 



KEV. ALLEN WILEY. 31 

During this year there were two glorious camp meetings 
held within the bounds of this circuit, which shall be 
noticed hereafter. West and Wiley found Lawrenceburg 
in a prosperous condition the ensuing year, and revival 
influence continued to spread nearly all over the circuit. 
This year the circuit was still further enlarged by the 
addition of new preaching-places. A new society was 
formed on the flats, about nine miles southwest of Brook - 
ville, which has continued to prosper. A new society 
was also formed between South Hogan and Laughery, 
near the present site of Mount Tabor meeting-house. 
This was a prosperous year on Lawrenceburg circuit, as 
many substantial citizens united with the Church, and 
the Church received valuable additions by immigration 
from the older sections of the country. 



32 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER IV. 

Early camp meetings— Camp meeting in the White Water country in 
1808— Camp meeting near Madison in 1817 — Camp meeting on Hogan 
creek, between Wilmington and Aurora, in 1817 — A plea for camp 
meetings. 

"The groves were God's first temples — ere man learned 
To hew the shaft, and lay the architrave, 
And spread the roof above them — ere he framed 
The lofty vault, to gather and roll back 
The sound of anthems." 

Camp meetings exerted a salutary influence upon the 
early jDopulation of the west. Camp meetings originated 
in the west, so far, at least, as their modern history is 
concerned; for anciently God required all his people to 
attend camp meeting once a year; for what was the 
Jewish feast of tabernacles but an annual national camp 
meeting ? 

Camp meetings are identified with the earliest opera- 
tions of Methodism in Indiana. The first camp meeting 
ever held in the White Water country was in 1808. The 
meeting was about five miles above the town of Harrison, 
near what is called the Lower Narrows, and was superin- 
tended by Hezekiah Shaw, who was in charge of the cir- 
cuit that year. Shaw was anxious to secure good order 
during the meeting, but very injudicious in the means 
which he employed. He had put up at the different 
cross-roads, and other public places throughout the 
neighborhood, written advertisements, threatenino- the 
people with three dollars fine for sundry breaches of 
order, to be arrested by a magistrate in the neighbor- 
hood. This was considered, by all who were disposed 



KEV. ALLEN WILEY. 33 

to be troublesome, as a kind of banter, and many who 
would never have thought of disturbing a religious as- 
sembly, were offended at these threats in advance, and, 
as might have been expected, many came to the meeting 
with feelings of insubordination. A humorous, witty 
fellow, by the name of Breckenridge, paraphrased Shaw's 
advertisement in a kind of doggerel poetry, every stanza 
ending with " three dollars fine." This furnished a good 
deal of sport for the "outsiders," and threw Shaw and 
his advertisements into ridicule. No disturbance, how- 
ever, occurred during the meeting, and a great deal of 
good was accomplished. William Houston, who was on 
the Cincinnati circuit, attended this meeting, and labored 
with great success. At this meeting an intelligent gen- 
tleman by the name of Mervin, whose education had 
been in another Church, was struck under deep convic- 
tion while hearing Houston preach from the whole armor 
of God. He went home in the evening greatly excited 
on the subject of religion. His soul's salvation had be- 
come the all-absorbing subject of his meditations. He 
retired to bed with a heavy heart, mourning his sins and 
imploring the Divine mercy. But while in this state of 
mind, all at once light broke into his soul, and love 
flowed into his heart, and he felt as though he was in a 
new world. With him all things had become new. He 
began to shout aloud, and spent most of the night in re- 
joicing in God his Savior. 

During this meeting a simple-hearted, honest fellow 
came forward to join the Church, and, being asked by 
the preacher whether he was willing to renounce the 
world and the devil, replied, in the simplicity of his 
heart, " I am willing to do any thing you tell me." It 
was at this meeting that Allen Wiley, for the first time in 
his life, was found at the mourner's bench as a penitent 
of salvation. 



34 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

The following year there was a camp meeting held on 
the same ground, at which John Collins, Asset M'Guire, 
Elijah Sparks, Walter Griffeth, and several other minis- 
ters were present. The preaching was, of course, of a 
superior order. The arrangements for the meeting had 
all been made devoutly and prayerfully, and there went 
out an influence from that meeting: in favor of religion 
and of Methodism, which extended from Brookville to 
the border of Kentucky, or at least for thirty miles. 

In the summer of 1817 there were two glorious camp 
meetings held within the bounds of the Lawrenceburg 
circuit, which that year enjoyed the labors of Russel 
Bigelow and Allen Wiley. The first was on the bank 
of Crooked creek, where a portion of Madison now 
stands. Up to Saturday morning the meeting dragged 
heavily. The appointment for eleven o'clock on Satur- 
day had been reserved for Thomas Heliums, one of the 
preachers from White Water circuit, who was expected 
at the meeting. Just before the hour of preaching, as 
Heliums had not arrived, Bigelow said to Wiley, "You 
will have to preach." Up to this time Wiley had 
preached more from a conviction of duty than from a 
love of preaching. But on that morning he remarked 
that he felt for the time a desire to preach. Conse- 
quently, when informed that he must preach at that 
hour, the intelligence was just what he desired. He 
requested Bigelow to tell him where the following pas- 
sage could be found: " The wicked is driven away in his 
wickedness, but the righteous hath hope in his death." 
Bigelow named him the chapter and verse, and he imme- 
diately commenced the services of the hour. As he ad- 
vanced, God filled his mind with ideas and his heart with 
zeal, and he preached with great success. At the close 
of the sermon twelve or fifteen came forward for prayers, 
and conversions commenced and continued to the close 






REV. ALLEN WILEY. 35 

of the meeting. Bigelow preached the closing sermon on 
Monday, which was one of decided ability, and attended 
with uncommon power. The results of this meeting were 
truly glorious, and much of its fruit remains to the pres- 
ent time ; and some who were converted at that meeting 
are safely landed on the other shore. The revival did not 
close with the camp meeting, but continued with una- 
bated interest for some time. The local preachers in the 
vicinity kept up the meeting, and people were converted 
in the church, and at their homes, and the work of God 
extended mightily and prevailed, so that many were 
saved as the fruit of the first camp meeting in that part 
of Indiana. 

The other camp meeting was held near the bank of 
South Ho^an, to the riorht of the road as one travels from 
the town of Wilmington to Aurora, near the residence of 
Mr. Milburn, whose house was the preaching-place for 
that region in early times. At this camp meeting Bige- 
low closed his official labors on Lawrenceburg circuit. 
There were perhaps as many souls converted at this 
meeting as there were during the progress of the Mad- 
ison camp meeting, but its influence was not so extensive. 
The meeting closed on Monday in a very solemn and 
impressive manner. Bigelow had the congregation formed 
in a company, like soldiers in a double file, and marched 
around the encampment, singing appropriate farewell 
hymns; after which the preachers took their stand at 
some convenient point, and bade them all farewell by 
shaking hands with each one of them, and getting 
pledges from as many of them as they could to meet 
them in heaven. O, what a melting time was that! 
Christians had been associated together for several days 
in the worship of God on that consecrated spot. The} T 
had prayed and rejoiced together. And now they were 
about to separate, never all of them to meet again on 



36 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

earth. Many had been converted during the meeting, 
and to them the place was consecrated ground. Bigelow 
was bidding adieu to his flock, and he exhorted them, in 
strains of eloquence that moved every heart, to meet him 
in heaven. 

The glorious results of such meetings will never be 
fully known till God shall collect his redeemed children 
home. " The Lord shall count, when he righteth up the 
people, that this man was born there;" for many of the 
children of Zion shall date their spiritual birthplace 
upon the camp-ground. Why should we give up the 
camp meeting ? — desert the venerable groves, 

" God's ancient sanctuaries, and adore 
Only among the crowd, and under roofs 
That our frail hands have raised?" 

True, we have our churches ; but there are many who 
never enter them, or, if they do, it is but occasionally, 
and only for a brief hour. The current of worldly 
thought is hardly arrested. " But there are disorders at 
camp meetings." So there are in our town and city 
churches. Camp meetings do not make bad men, though 
bad men attend them, and men who have gone to scoff 
have remained to pray. "But it is a needless exposure 
of health to camp in the woods." We are not so certain 
but what it is conducive to health. If it had been dan- 
gerous to life or health, would God have required the 
Jews to encamp in booths for a week every year? We 
say, give us the camp meeting, where, day after day and 
night after night, the mind shall be called off from the 
world, and directed to the great subject of personal sal- 
vation. Let us hear the eloquence that is called forth by 
the presence of assembled thousands, and the music that 
ascends from a thousand pious hearts, as, with united 
voice, they join to sing the songs of Zion. Let us again 
see weeping hundreds crowd the camp meeting altar; 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 37 

and 0, let us again hear the shoutings of the newly- 
converted, as they arise and testify that Christ hath 
power on earth to forgive sins. There shall be in that 
innumerable company before the throne a mighty host 
who were converted at camp meetings. 
4 



38 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER V. 

Rev. Allen Wiley's career as a circuit preacher — A thrilling incidentr— 
Text at a funeral — Outline of a sermon on the word religion. 

The first eleven years of Wiley's itinerant ministry 
were spent in traveling extensive and laborious circuits, 
as follows: In 1817, Lawrenceburg ; 1818, White Water; 
1819, Oxford; 1820, Madison; 1821, White Water; 
1822-3, Miami; 1824, Madison; 1825-6, Charlestown ; 
and 1827, Lawrenceburo-. These circuits averaged from 
twenty to twenty-five appointments each, and required 
four weeks to go around them. Many of the appoint- 
ments were distant from each other. The roads — where 
there were any — were newly opened and poorly improved, 
and many of them were mere paths, or blind ways, rec- 
ognized only by marks upon the trees. The streams 
were destitute of bridges or ferries, and yet the preachers 
were always expected at their appointments, no matter 
what was the state of the weather or the condition of the 
roads or streams. The writer witnessed an exciting scene 
that occurred while Wiley was on Lawrenceburg circuit 
the second time. A large congregation had assembled 
on a funeral occasion, near the bank of South Hogan. 
Wiley was expected to attend the funeral, but had to 
reach the appointment from the opposite side of the 
creek. Punctual to the hour, the preacher was seen on 
the opposite bank. But a heavy rain had suddenly raised 
the stream to what was considered an impassable depth. 
The current was uncommonly rapid, and the water came 
foaming and dashing over its uneven and rocky bed in 
the most turbulent and angry manner. A large portion 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 39 

of the men repaired to the creek to ascertain whether it 
would be possible for the preacher to cross. Most of 
them were of the opinion that he ought not to attempt it ; 
but, after surveying the stream for a few minutes, he 
ventured in. His horse was large and strong, and accus- 
tomed to fording difficult streams. But soon the horse 
was nearly buried in the angry water, which dashed its 
spray over both horse and rider. Now it seemed as 
though the noble animal would lose his footing, and both 
horse and rider perish. But, by yielding partially to the 
current, and inclining a little down stream, the shore was 
reached in safety. After wringing the water from his 
outer clothing and changing his socks, he preached an 
able and deeply-impressivo sermon, from 2 Samuel xiv, 
14: " For we must needs die, and are as water spilled on 
the ground, which can not be gathered up again ; neither 
doth God respect any person ; yet he doth devise means 
that his banished be not expelled from him." Not unfre- 
quently would the preacher cross the fordless stream in 
an Indian canoe, or " dug-out," as they are familiarly 
called, carrying his saddle and saddle-bags with him, and 
swimming his faithful horse along side. Wiley was or- 
dained a deacon by Bishop M'Kendree, August 25, 
1818, and ordained an elder by Bishop Roberts, August 
13, 1820. 

Wiley was an indefatigable student, and, as a conse- 
quence, he not only increased his store of knowledge, but 
made rapid improvement in both the matter and style 
of his sermons. He studied his subjects well, but deliv- 
ered them without the aid of written notes. But few of 
his discourses, on any occasion, were ever published, 
although many of them were master productions ; and it 
is much to be regretted that his pulpit preparations were 
not committed to paper. 

The following outline of a sermon preached by him, 



ttU LIFE AND TIMES OF 

from the word "religion," in 1827, will give some idea 
of his style of sermonizing at that time. 

Text — Religion. The word is found twice in the first 
chapter of Galatians, once in the fifth verse of the 
twenty-sixth chapter of Acts, and in the twenty-seventh 
verse of the first chapter of James. 

We shall discuss the subject under the following heads: 
1. Its origin; 2. Its nature ; 3. Its tendency; 4. Its end. 

I. Its origin. 1. Endeavor to show that natural relig- 
ion, properly speaking, was the religion of Adam before 
the fall, and that it is of no service to fallen man. 2. 
Show from Scripture and reason that man is fallen, and 
has no religion, if God has not revealed it to him, and 
of course its origin is in the Divine mind, and is revealed 
to us, which God has goodness, and wisdom, and power 
to do. 

II. Its nature. 1. It is doctrinal; 2. It is experi- 
mental ; 3. It is practical. Here we will consider the 
doctrines of a Gentile, a Jew, and a Christian. (1.) The 
Gentile believes that there is one supreme God, who is a 
rewarder of those who seek him, which faith is produced 
by tradition and the enlightenings of the Spirit which 
taught him the necessity of a medium of access to God. 
This is evident from his having tutelar gods and sacri- 
fices. (2.) The Jew believes that there is one God, and 
a Messiah to come, which he discovers, First. By prom- 
ise ; Second. By sacrifices; Third. By prophecy. (3.) 
The Christian believes in one true God, and in justifica- 
tion by faith and regeneration by grace. The experi- 
mental includes justification, regeneration, and sanctifica- 
tion. The practical consists in doing justly, loving 
mercy, and walking humbly with God, or a discharge 
of all our personal duties. 

III. Its tendency. 1. The doctrinal shows us our rela- 
tion to God, and the way to obtain his favor. 2. The 



EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 41 

experimental tends to make us happy in our own souls. 
3. The practical tends to promote peace and happiness 
among men. 

IV. Its end. To prepare us for death and judgment, 
and to bring us to the enjoyment of God and heaven, in 
soul and body to all eternity. 

Some of my readers may have heard Wiley preach the 
sermon of which the above is a meager sketch. If so, 
they will not ask the question, Can these dry bones live ? 
They remember how he clothed them with flesh, in beau- 
tiful proportions, and breathed into them life and anima- 
tion, and how, as he progressed with his subject and 
warmed with his theme, he presented the religion of the 
Christian to the delighted and enraptured minds of his 
hearers in its purity, its grandeur, and its power, as the 
last yet glorious hope of humanity — having the promise 
of the life that now is and of that which is to come. 



^2 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTEE 71. 

Wiley's first eleven years in the ministry — Progress of Methodism — 
Rev. William Cravens — Temperance and antislavery principles — Conver- 
sion of an infidel — Anecdotes of Cravens — Wiley's temperance resolu- 
tions — The Church an embodiment of moral power — Death of Cravens. 

During the eleven years which Wiley spent in travel- 
ing circuits, religion, and especially that form of it called 
Methodism, had made rapid progress in Indiana. "When 
Wiley commenced traveling, Lawrencc-burg circuit was 
the only entire circuit in eastern Indiana. A few of the 
appointments on the White Water circuit were on the 
Indiana side of the line, and these were included in the 
Ohio conference. 

The following circuits in Indiana were included in the 
Missouri conference : Silver Creek, which lay opposite 
Louisville, Ky.; Blue River, which derived its name from 
the waters of that river being blue ; Patoka and Vin- 
cennes, on the Wabash. 

In 1G27 there were the following fields of labor, and 
supplied as follows : Madison district, John Strange, pre- 
siding elder; Madison station, Edwin Ray; Madison cir- 
cuit, James Garner and Abner H. Cheever ; Lawrence- 
burg, Allen Wiley and Daniel ISTewton; Lawrenceburg 
station, James L. Thompson; White Water, Thomas S. 
Hitt and James Scott; Wayne, Stephen R. Beggs and 
William Evans ; Connersville, Robert Burns ; Rushville, 
James Havens; Indianapolis, X. B. Griffith ; Columbus, 
C. B. Jones; Vernon, Henry Buel. Charleston district, 
James Armstrong, presiding elder ; Charleston, George 
Locke, C. W. Ruter, supernumerary, and E. G. Wood; 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 43 

Corydon, J. W. M'Renolds, S. Lowe, supernumerary; 
Paoli, William Moore, James M. Kean; Eel River, W. 
H. Smith, Benjamin Stevenson; Crawfordsville, Eli P. 
Farmer; Bloomington, Daniel Anderson, S. M. Otwell; 
Salem, William Shanks, John Hardy ; Washington, Thos. 
Davis. Wabash district, Charles Holliday, presiding 
elder, (a part of this district in Illinois;) Vincennes, J. 
Miller, Asahel Risley; Patoki, Charles Slocum; Boon- 
ville, William Mavity; Mount Vernon, Thomas Files. 

Thus we have twenty-six different charges, and these 
enjoying the labors of thirty-eight men, and including an 
aggregate membership of more than twelve thousand. 
(See published Minutes for 1827.) During this period 
several of Wiley's associates in the ministry, in Indiana, 
had died. Of this number was Rev. William Cravens, 
than whom a braver man never lived. He was born in 
Virginia, July 31, 1766. He made a profession of relig- 
ion, and joined the Methodist Church, in 1794. He 
removed to Indiana, and was received on trial in the Mis- 
souri conference in 1820. He had been a local preacher 
for a number of years in Virginia, previous to his immi- 
gration to Indiana, and had acquired great notoriety from 
the faithful and fearless manner in which he denounced 
vice in all its forms. He abhorred sin of all sorts, but 
especially the sins of drunkenness and negro slavery. 
Against these he declaimed with a zeal which made the 
wicked quail before him, even in the aristocratic parts 
of Virginia. 

While residing in Virginia Mr. Cravens had an infidel 
neighbor by the name of T., who was a slaveholder. He 
had labored in vain alike to convert him to antislavery 
principles and to the truth of Christianity. At length 
Mr. T. was taken severely ill, and it soon became appar- 
ent that he would likely die. The prospect of death 
shook his confidence in his infidel principles, and he 



4:4: LIFE AND TIMES OF 

became deeply concerned on the subject of his soul's sal- 
vation ; and as his convictions increased he desired some 
one to instruct him in the way of salvation. At length 
he sent a servant with the request that Mr. Cravens 
would call and see him. Judging correctly as to the 
cause of the invitation, he hastened immediately to the 
home of the sick man, whom he found dangerously ill, 
and deeply distressed on account of his sins. 

"0," said the sick man, " I am glad to see yon. I 
want you to pray for me, and tell me what I must do to 
be saved." 

" Ah. Mr. T., I thought it would come to this. What 
have you done with your negroes?" 

" I have provided for them in my will," said Mr. T. 
" I have divided them among my children, as I wish 
them to remain in the family." 

"I can not pray for you," said Cravens; "God will 
never have mercy on you till you are willing to do justly. 
You will never get religion till you set your negroes 
free." So Cravens returned home. But in a short time 
another messenger came for him. 

"Master wants to see you immediately," was the 
substance of the request. The sick man felt that his 
condition was a perilous one. Death was approaching, 
and the preacher had refused to pray for him. He 
needed mercy, and yet he had failed to exercise it. The 
will was called for and altered, and soon the minister 
arrived." 

"Well, T.," said Mr. Cravens, "how is it now?" 

" Cravens, I want you to pray for me, and tell me how 
I can be saved." 

"What have you done with your slaves?" said 
Cravens. 

"I have altered my will," said Mr. T., "and have 
provided for their emancipation." 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 45 

" I will pray for you now," said Cravens; " and more 
than that, God will have mercy on you, too." 

The preacher was not mistaken. In answer to their 
joint supplications God did bless him, by removing the 
burden of guilt from his conscience, and giving him a 
satisfactory hope of a home in heaven. 

In 1821 Mr. Cravens was sent to Indianapolis, or, 
rather, to organize a circuit to be called Indianapolis ; for 
as yet there was no such circuit, except as the conference 
had that year named it on the Minutes. A few Method- 
ist families had settled at different points on White river, 
in the vicinity of Indianapolis, and the conference re- 
solved to send them a preacher; and, accordingly, Cra- 
vens was appointed to that work, with the view of taking- 
care of the few sheep in the wilderness, and of planting 
the institutions of religion and disseminating its influence 
in the center of our young but promising state. Cravens 
was just the man for such a work. Zealous, fearless, 
and indefatigable, he would confront danger in any of its 
forms, if duty only led the way. On horseback and 
alone he threaded his way through the wilderness, from 
the settlements on the Ohio, to those on White river. 
The streams were swollen by the recent rains and difficult 
to cross. In attempting to ford Sugar creek, in the vicin- 
ity of where the old state road, leading from Madison to 
Indianapolis, crosses it. he was swept from his horse and 
left to buffet with the stream as best he could. His 
horse reached the bank in safety, and a man who had 
settled in that vicinity in an early day, observing the 
horse come out of the creek without its rider, he hast- 
ened down to the bank to see what was the matter. He 
states that when he arrived at the bank he saw a large, 
middle-aged man crawling out of the water upon the 
limbs of a tree-top that had fallen into the stream, and 
as he got on the trunk of the tree he heard him solilo- 



46 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

quizing, and saying to himself, "Well, bless God, I 
would go to heaven if it were Sugar creek all the way." 
Said the backwoodsman, " I reckon you will get there ; 
you seem to be in the right way. A man who could 
praise God in the midst of such trials would be likely to 
succeed in his mission and save his own soul." 

Cravens did not cease his denunciations against the sin 
of slavery after he had come to a free state. 

Here he found some who had hired out their slaves in 
the slave states, and were drawing their wages. Many 
more had sold their slaves, and removed to a free state, 
and purchased homes for themselves and their children 
with the price of their slaves, and were now zealous anti- 
slavery men. Such were denounced by him as blood- 
stained hypocrites, and worse than the actual slaveholder, 
who was still holding his slaves but treating them kindly. 
He seldom preached a sermon without making all who 
made, sold, or drank ardent spirits feel uneasy. 

On one of his circuits a brother was reported as being 
guilty of " unnecessarily drinking ardent spirits." He 
was cited to trial, and found guilty. But the committee 
was anxious to retain him in the Church, if possible ; 
and they wished to know of the accused brother if he 
would not quit his habit of dram-drinking. After reflect- 
ing a little, he said he would try and quit. But it was 
evident that he did not feel that there was much guilt 
attached to the mere habit of dram-drinking. He could 
drink or let it alone, and seemed to think it rather an in- 
terference with his personal rights to entirely prohibit him. 
But rather than give up the Church he would promise that 
he would tnj to quit. " But," said Cravens, " brother, you 
must quit." That was, however, more than the brother 
would promise to. But, on his pledge that he would try 
and quit, the committee retained him. Xot satisfied with 
such a verdict, Cravens carried the case up to the quar- 



RET. ALLEN WILEY. 47 

terly meeting conference, where the brother was required 
either to give up his drams or to give up the Church. 
He concluded to give up the former, and was thus doubt- 
less saved from a drunkard's grave by the uncompro- 
mising integrity of his pastor. 

Cravens was not alone in his opposition to intemper- 
ance. Every Methodist preacher was expected to enforce 
the Discipline of the Church against dram- drinking and 
drunkenness. The following is a copy of the resolutions 
which Wiley was in the habit of getting his quarterly 
meeting conference to adopt. They are taken from the 
old Church Records at Indianapolis, and were adopted by 
the official members of that Church at their second quar- 
terly meeting, in 1832. 

Resolved,, 1. That we will not use ardent spirits in 
any way or on any occasion, except in cases of extreme 
necessity. 

Resolved, 2. That we will not treat with, nor offer in 
refreshment, ardent spirits, at home or abroad; neither 
will we use them on our farm in harvesting or in any 
other employment. 

Resolved, 3. That we will not distill or make ardent 
spirits, nor cause the same to be made ; neither will we 
buy or sell them for our own emolument, nor on com- 
mission for others. 

Resolved, 4. That we will not permit our laborers, or 
any other person, to make use of ardent spirits on our 
premises. 

Resolved, 5. That we will not vote for any person, 
when we can conscientiously avoid it, who will treat with 
ardent spirits at or previous to elections, for the purpose 
of securing votes. 

Resolved, 6. That we will use our exertions in our re- 
spective neighborhoods, to suppress the use of ardent 
spirits, except as a medicine, and at all suitable oppor- 



4 g LIFE AND TIMES OF 

tunities we will endeavor to prevail on our neighbors to 

unite with a temperance society. 

And yet we find a temperance lecturer so intemperate 
in his zeal to advance the temperance reformation and to 
Horify temperance societies, as to assert that our early 
Ministry was a dram-drinking ministry and that dram- 
drinking was tolerated in all the Churches. Such, how- 
ever was not the fact. The Church is an embodiment of 
that moral power which is to effect the regeneration of 
human nature, and as such her ministry and membership 
are rightly expected to take the lead in all moral informs. 
Cravens died, after a short but severe illness, on the 10th 
of October, 1826. He was a man of very strong talents 
and was remarkable for his practical common sense and 

ready wit. , 

His satire was scathing, his courage undaunted, and 
his zeal a constant flame. He devoted all his energies to 
the service of God, and his labors were crowned with 
success. Truth never had a bolder champion, nor vice a 
more uncompromising foe. 




REV. ALLEN WILEY. 49 



CHAP TEE VII. 

Privations and hardships of early preachers — Shrader on Silver Creek 
circuit — Extent of the circuit — New preaching-places — Extensive revi- 
val — Pilots Bishop M'Kendree to the seat of Missouri conference — Sick- 
ness — Appointed to Spring River circuit, Arkansas — Account of the coun- 
try, the people, etc. — Description of the mode of preparing breadstuff — 
Camp meeting on the bank of the Arkansas river — Dr. Oglesby's second 
appointment from the conference — Perils in the wilderness — Providential 
deliverance — Extent of his circuit — Explores the Missouri country — Visits 
Daniel Boone — Preaches at Boone's Lick — Early Jesuit Missionaries — 
Their reports — Central idea of Romanism — Central idea of Methodism — 
Protestantism favorable to free institutions. 

As an illustration of the labors, privations, and hard- 
ships of the early pioneers of Methodism in the west take 
the following, furnished me by Rev. John Shrader, an 
early associate of Wiley's in the ministry, and who is 
yet living. He says, "In the spring of 1818, I was re- 
moved to Silver Creek circuit on the Ohio, embracing the 
country from the mouth of Blue river up to Madison. 
Rev. J. Cord had been appointed to this circuit by the 
Bishop; but his house being consumed by fire, he was 
compelled to quit traveling for a season, and return to his 
friends. I came to Cord's appointment at Gazaway's, 
and found him preaching from ' The Lord is my Shep- 
herd; I shall not want.' It was a good sermon, preached 
by a good man. After service I told him that I had 
come to take his place. He appeared glad to be released, 
and hastened home. I now entered on my work with 
much fear and trembling. Revivals had commenced at 
different points on the circuit under Cord's preaching, and 
on me rested the responsibility of carrying on this great 
work, which extended nearly all over the circuit; and 
5 



50 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

during the year nearly six hundred were taken into the 
Church on trial. I took into the circuit, as new preach- 
ing-places, New Lexington, Jeffersonville, and New Al- 
bany. Some seven or eight members of the Church had 
formed themselves into a class at New Albany, and called 
on me to preach for them, which I did in a tavern occu- 
pied by a Mrs. Ruff. In this tavern I administered the 
sacrament of the Lord's supper for the first time, I sup- 
pose, that it was ever administered in New Albany. 

" At the close of this year, by the direction of the pre- 
siding elder, I went to Cincinnati to meet Bishop M'Ken- 
dree, and conduct him to the seat of the Missouri confer- 
ence, which was to be held at Bethel meeting-house, near 
the present town of Washington, the county seat of Da- 
vies county, Indiana. I was taken sick the first day of 
the conference, but was well taken care of at the house 
of William Hawkins. My appointment for the ensuing- 
year was Spring River circuit, Arkansas territory. It 
was some time before I sufficiently recovered from my 
sickness to enable me to ride. But Avhile yet feeble I 
started for my field of labor, which required a journey 
of five hundred miles. My circuit embraced a large ex- 
tent of territory; it was mountainous and rocky; the set- 
tlements were very scattering, and it was far between the 
appointments. The inhabitants were mostly hunters, and 
lived on the game they caught. They generally brought 
their dogs and guns to meeting with them. The dogs very 
often differed with each other : and a quarrel ensued, and 
this ended in a general dog tight. This always produced 
a stir in the congregation, and consumed some time be- 
fore peace could be restored and ratified. The preacher 
would be interrupted in his sermon, or perhaps forget his 
text, and have to finish with an exhortation. At other 
times the hunters would return home during divine serv- 
ice, with venison, bear meat, and dogs. But we wore 



EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 51 

not easily disturbed in those days. We had plenty of 
venison, bear-rneat, and turkeys to eat; but our bread was 
corn, and coarse at that. In many places we had no way 
of grinding our grain, except on what was called Arm- 
strong's mill. This was generally a long cedar pole, with 
one end made fast on the ground, and supported in the 
middle by two forks, with a pestle fastened to the small 
end. Under it we placed a mortar, and thus we prepared 
our breadstuff, and this we frequently baked without 
sifting; and perhaps this is the reason why we did not 
have the dyspepsia. In some parts of the circuit, how- 
ever, we fared well for the times, found warm friends, 
and, at two or three appointments, had good revivals of 
religion. At the close of the year I traveled as far west 
as the Arkansas river, and attended a camp meeting on 
its bank. We had a good meeting, at the close of which 
I started for conference, which sat at M'Kendree Chapel, 
near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. 

"My next appointment was Corydon circuit, Indiana. 
I was much pleased with this appointment, and felt 
myself at home among my old friends." 

In 1816 the Missouri conference was organized, and 
held its first session at Turkey Hill settlement, in Illinois. 
The following is father Shrader's account of the organiza- 
tion of the conference, and of his first appointment from 
the conference : 

"Bishop M'Kendree and myself started from Louisville, 
Kentucky, for Yincennes, from whence Walker, Scripps, 
and others, were to travel with us through the wilderness 
to the Missouri conference. After camping in the wilder- 
ness three nights, we arrived at the seat of the conference. 
When the conference, was organized we found that we 
had seven members present, and some few were admitted 
on trial. These are now all dead, except J. Scripps and 
myself. The conference extended over four different 



52 LIFE AND TIMES UF 

states. Most of the members of conference were young 
men. We had received very little quarterage from our 
circuits, and consequently were in tolerably-straitened cir- 
cumstances. Bishop M'Kendree gave the conference one 
hundred dollars, and this, added to our share of the funds, 
made us a pretty fair dividend. From this conference we 
scattered over this immense territory. My appointment 
was to Missouri circuit, embracing the settlements be- 
tween the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. I commenced 
preaching in St. Charles, in a tavern. Some of the bac- 
chanalians would leave their worship and listen to me 
awhile, and sometimes they would swear that I was 
preaching the best sermon that they ever heard. We 
had a good revival on the Missouri, above St. Charles. 
In the fall of this year — 1817 — the presiding elder and 
myself traveled up the Missouri as far as Boone's Lick, 
and held a camp meeting — the first ever held in that part 
of the world. Having to lodge m the woods six nights, 
going and returning, I was taken very sick, and had like 
to have died in the wilderness." 

We give another extract to show the hardships and 
perils through which our fathers in the ministry had to 
pass in that early day. The following is an account of 
Dr. Oglesby's second appointment from the conference. 
The Doctor died at Louisville, March 12, 1852, aged over 
seventy years : 

"In the fall of 1804 I went a missionary to Illinois. 
When I left the Ohio river at Clarksville — foot of the 
falls — on my way to my field of labor, there was but one 
family living on the trace till I reached Vincennes — a dis- 
tance of about one hundred and fifty miles, as the trace 
then ran. But there was a fearful amount of ferocious 
wild beasts, and Indians not a few, by a company of 
whom I expected to have been murdered at the crossing 
of the west fork of White river. I was then alone, in a 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 53 

howling wilderness of one hundred and eighty miles be- 
fore me. I was unwilling to undertake the journey alone. 
I therefore remained at Vincennes near two days, till 
company came up who were bound for Turkey Hill set- 
tlement, which was then the emporium of Illinois. After 
four days lonely and hard traveling, we reached our place 
of destination in safety. 

"I soon commenced my labors, and formed a three 
weeks circuit, which was about three hundred miles in 
circumference. The circuit contained two respectable 
classes, besides a few scattering members. During that 
year my labor was hard, and my sufferings intolerable ; 
but the pleasure of the Lord prospered in my unworthy 
hands. I was far beyond the reach of my presiding 
elder — Rev. William M'Kendree. I therefore had to 
bear the burden and heat of the day alone, not seeing 
one of the preachers that season. In June, 1805, I re- 
connoitered the Missouri country to the extremity of the 
settlement, and had the pleasure of seeing Daniel Boone, 
the mighty hunter, during my trip there. I preached 
frequently, which was novel to the people, as I was the 
first Methodist that had ever preached in that territory." 

Such indomitable energy, such tireless devotion, such 
uncomplaining toil, such cheerful self-denial as was mani- 
fested by the early pioneers of Methodism in the west, 
has never been equaled in the history of our country, 
except in the case of the early Jesuit missionaries of the 
Romish Church. They were the first in the field ; they 
came with the early French traders and French troops. 
The Jesuit missionaries were the first historians and geog- 
raphers of the great west. They not only visited the 
trading posts and small colonies established by the 
French, but they followed the Indian to his hunting- 
ground, threaded the forest, swam rivers, and endured 
all kinds of hardships in prosecuting their spiritual 

5* 



54 LIFE ANB TIMES OF 

mission and in furthering the objects of the government 
from whence they came. 

The best and only authentic account of the country, 
bounded on the north by the lakes, east by the Wabash, 
south by the Ohio, and west by the Mississippi, one cen- 
tury ago, is to be found in the Missionary Reports of 
these Jesuit fathers. One of these Reports was written 
by father Gabriel Maust, missionary of the company of 
Jesus, and directed to father Gernon, of the same com- 
pany, dated at Kaskaskia, an Indian village, November 
9, 1712. 

An edition of these Reports was published in Paris, in 
1761 ; but while the influence of the Jesuit fathers was 
doomed to decline, the influence of Methodism was des- 
tined to rapidly increase. The cause which tended to 
produce such opposite results is obvious to the unpreju- 
diced upon a moment's reflection. 

There has ever been a strong bond of sympathy be- 
tween the Papal religion and monarchical forms of gov- 
ernment, which has ever led them to further each other's 
plans, and come to each other's relief in numerous emerg- 
encies. The central idea of the Romish Church is an 
aggregation of power, and hence her affinities and tend- 
encies are all to a state of absolutism. 

The Jesuit fathers, who established a cordon of mis- 
sionary stations from the northern lakes down the Wa- 
bash and Illinois rivers to the Mississippi, and from these 
to the Gulf of Mexico, were, in an important sense, gov- 
ernment officers under the French crown. Romanism 
was the established religion of France, and the Church 
was regarded by the court, as it has ever been by mon- 
archs, as a powerful engine of state policy, and the 
Church in turn employed the state to further its schemes 
of conquest, and became the heritage of republicanism 
and the home of free institutions. Protestantism began 



EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 55 

to appear in the ascendant. The history of Detroit, Vin- 
cennes, St. Louis, and New Orleans are proofs of my 
position. While the central idea of Romanism was 
power, the central idea of Methodism was salvation from 
sin. Methodism, like most other forms of Protestantism, 
has its sympathies, tendencies, and affinities all on the 
side of republicanism — on the side of liberal institutions 
and a free government; and all it asks of the state is to 
be let alone in its holy mission of saving sinners and of 
establishing the spiritual kingdom of Christ in the earth. 
The best evidence of the apostleship of our pioneer fath- 
ers in the ministry is found in the thousands who were 
converted through their instrumentality. They labored, 
and we enter into their labors. They have built up a 
Church, powerful in numbers, and with an organization 
admirably adapted to efficient action as an instrument of 
human salvation as well as in improving the minds, man- 
ners, and morals of society. 



56 LIFE AXD TIMES OF 



CHAPTER VIII. 

Wiley is appointed presiding elder on Madison district — Extent of the 
district — Revival on Lawrenceburg circuit under the labors of 2s. B. 
Griffith and E. G. Wood — Radical secession at Madison — Camp meeting 
on Pendleton circuit — Baptism of a sick man — Wiley continues on Madi- 
son district — His views in reference to the division of the larger fields of 
labor — Anecdote of a Roman farmer — Wiley's perseverance as a student — 
Visits Fort Wayne — Sketch of the character and labors of Rev. John 
Strange. 

In 1828 Wiley was appointed presiding elder on the 
Madison district. The appointments in his district were 
supplied as follows : Madison station, Edwin Ray; Madi- 
son circuit, Cornelius Ruddle and Abner H. Cheever; 
Lawrenceburg, ISTehemiah B. Griffith and Enoch G. 
Wood; White Water, James L. Thompson; Wayne, 
Robert Burns ; Connersville, William Evans ; Rushville, 
James Havens and John Kerns; Fall Creek, Charles 
Bonner ; Indianapolis station, James Armstrong ; Colum- 
bus circuit, Asa Beck. The following were the metes 
and bounds of Madison district when Wiley took charge 
of it. It began at Madison on the Ohio river, and ex- 
tended north of Randolph county, and thence west to 
White river, and thence down said river, including An- 
dersontown, Nobles ville, Indianapolis, and Martinsville. 
It then extended south-east to the east fork of White 
river, called Driftwood, some distance below Columbus, 
and thence to Madison, the place of beginning, embracing 
all the intermediate country, except a narrow strip extend- 
ing from Paris to Versailles, called Vernon circuit. 

The district included twenty county towns. Wiley's 
first year on Madison district was signalized by extensive 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 57 

revivals of religion in many of the charges. Lawrence- 
burg circuit shared largely that year in revival influence, 
under the zealous and indefatigable labors of 1ST. B. Grif- 
fith and E. G. Wood. 

Nearly every part of the circuit was in a perfect blaze 
of religious excitement, and many were converted to God ; 
and of the number were several young men, who subse- 
quently entered the ministry. Of these we mention J. V. 
Watson, of the Michigan conference, Edward Oldham, 
formerly of the Indiana, but now deceased, and F. C. 
Holliday, as likely to be remembered by our readers. 
The year closed with a glorious camp meeting near Mount 
Tabor meeting-house, on the dividing ridge between the 
waters of Hogan and Laughery creeks. There was a 
net increase on the circuit, during the year, of two hun- 
dred and fourteen members, and much of the fruit of 
that year's labor remains to the present time; although 
many who were converted through the instrumentality of 
Griffith and Wood are numbered among the spirits before 
the throne. 

This year witnessed considerable agitation in the 
Church at Madison, in consequence of the Radical ex- 
citement, as it was called. Ray did what he could to 
reclaim the disaffected brethren, by publicly vindicating 
the economy of the Church ; but these efforts only hast- 
ened the crisis ; and during the year a number withdrew, 
and organized a separate Church, which flourished for 
some time. They built a respectable church on Third- 
street, in the central part of the city, and at one time the 
society numbered about three hundred. But in a few 
years they began to decline. The greater part returned 
to the old Church, and for some years our Protestant 
brethren did not keep up worship in their house at all, 
and there is a sad prospect of their ever accomplishing 
much in that community. I inquired of an intelligent 



58 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

brother, wlio was acquainted with the history of the 
unfortunate division in Madison, as to the cause of so 
total a failure on the part of our Protestant friends. His 
reply was, that Radicalism was like the small-pox — peo- 
ple would take it only once. Whatever causes of com- 
plaint existed at the time of the Radical secession, time 
has shown that they were more in the administrative pol- 
icy of the Church than in any organic law or funda- 
mental principle in the Discipline of the Church. It is 
not contended that the Discipline of the Church is not 
susceptible of improvement. But experience in the future 
will show, as it has in the past, that it is easier to improve 
it than find a substitute that will work better. The real 
friends of any system can not be opposed to such a 
change in its mode of operation, as a change of circum- 
stances ma)' require, or as the light of experience may 
prove to be desirable. It is doubtful whether there is 
any Church in which lay representation is more potential 
for all practical purposes than in the Methodist Episcopal ; 
and yet it is highly probable that improvements can be 
profitably and judiciously made in that direction. 

Fall Creek prospered considerably under the labors 
of Charles Bonner. Although it was his first year in the 
conference, his zeal, amiability, and piety made him pop- 
ular with all classes. He was industrious to a proverb. 
Had he continued in the conference, and devoted his 
energies to the study of theology and general literature, 
and less to manual labor, he would have been one of the 
ablest and most useful ministers in Indiana. His family 
was large, and his receipts from the Church generally 
inadequate to their proper support, and, in an hour of 
temptation, he located. How many men have been lost 
to the Church under similar circumstances ! 

During Bonner's year on Fall Creek circuit, there was 
a glorious camp meeting held in the vicinity of Pendleton, 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 59 

during which at least fifty souls were converted to God, 
and about the same number added to the Church. The 
following incident in connection with this meeting is from 
the pen of Wiley : 

" A part of the sermon at the middle of the day, on 
Sabbath, was devoted to the subject of baptism, and at 
the close of the service some forty or fifty adults and 
infants were solemnly baptized. After the public baptism 
was over, the elder was informed that there was a poor, 
afflicted man in a wagon, whose body was, to a consider- 
able extent, decayed by some kind of abscess or ulcer- 
ation; but 'there was yet body enough left to hold the 
soul, which could not stay much longer on the earth, as 
disease was rapidly encroaching on the vital parts of the 
system. This poor Lazarus, with all his stench of dis- 
ease, heard the sermon and felt its force, and was desir- 
ous to be baptized before he died; and his wish was met 
in the wagon. His meek, penitent, weeping countenance 
is still fresh in my recollection. If baptism were confined 
to immersion alone, this poor man must have died unbap- 
tized ; for I suppose the most zealous immersionist in the 
world would not have attempted to put the fragments of 
his decaying body under the water. To my mind this 
fact is a most powerful argument against the absolute 
necessity of immersion to constitute valid baptism ; for if 
that be the case, this penitent believer must have died 
unsealed with God's sign of the Christian covenant; but 
if pouring or sprinkling be valid baptism, while the head 
and heart are alive, and reason and feeling continue, the 
penitent may be baptized. This poor man felt that it 
was valid ; and in a few days left the remains of a loath- 
some carcass, and went to rest." 

Armstrong had a successful year in Indianapolis sta- 
tion, and received many substantial citizens into the 
Church, who still remain active and influential members. 



60 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



Wiley remained on the Madison district four years, 
during which he sustained the reputation, among both 
preachers and people, of a prudent administrator of the 
Discipline and an able expositor and defender of the doc- 
trines and usages of the Church; and he was instru- 
mental in bringing a number of young men into the 
conference who have done good service to the Church. 

He early saw the necessity of dividing the larger fields 
of labor, so as to allow more time and a better oppor- 
tunity for the performance of pastoral duties. The fol- 
lowing were his views as early as 1830. He says, "We 
were slow to learn the true method of the Church's influ- 
ence and usefulness by so multiplying charges as to bring 
more persons into active operation in the cause of religion. 
Formerly there was great reluctance to divide circuits, for 
four reasons: 1. For fear the preachers would not have 
enough to do ; 2. For fear we could not find a sufficiency 
of preachers for the charges; 3. For fear the preachers 
could not get a competent support ; 4. Because the official 
members who had long been associated together in the 
same quarterly meeting conference were unwilling to part. 
If all our work was to be done on horseback, or in the act 
of preaching and meeting classes, as many seem to sup- 
pose, there might have been some ground for the first 
reason. This mistaken view had well-nigh ruined most 
of us ; and I fear the mass of the old and middle-ao-ed 
preachers, and some of the young ones, too, will have to 
die off before we have a good body of pastors and Sun- 
day school men, and men who will care for and attend to 
all the benevolent and literary interests of the Church. 
The second reason is a kind of infidel one, and seems 
to say that God has not the 'residue of the Spirit,' and 
could not supply the Church with a sufficient number of 
competent men to do the work which he has ordained 
and commanded to be done. The third reason has no 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 61 

foundation in fact. Virgil says, in his Bucolics, ' Praise 
a large farm, but till a small one. A Roman gentleman 
had two daughters and a vineyard. On the marriage of 
one of his daughters, he gave her one-third of his vine- 
yard, and bestowed the same amount of culture on the 
remaining two-thirds as he had done on the whole, and 
the consequence was that there was no diminution of the 
vintage. On the marriage of his second daughter, he 
gave her another third, and then bestowed the same 
amount of culture on the remaining third, and his vintage 
was equally abundant.' The same principle is equally 
true as it respects the culture of moral soil." 

During Wiley's second year on the district he suffered 
from repeated attacks of the fever and ague ; yet he was 
punctual in attending his appointments, whether he was 
able to preach or not. And, notwithstanding his district 
was large and the opportunity of studying poor, yet 
he prosecuted his study of the original languages of the 
holy Scriptures with an ardor that insured success, even 
under the greatest disadvantages and discouragements. 
Burdened as he was with the duties of a large district, 
and enfeebled by disease, he would sit down in the fam- 
ilies where he staid, and commit a lesson in Latin, or 
pore over his Hebrew Bible and Lexicon, or his Greek 
grammar and Testament, with as much composure as 
though he were in the privacy of a quiet study. He 
studied grammar and logic on horseback, and elaborated 
many of his best sermons while riding to his appoint- 
ments. He held that any man who entered the ministry 
before he had arrived at the meridian of life, could and 
ought to master the Greek and Hebrew languages, that 
he might be able to read the Scriptures in the languages 
in which they were originally written. Although he read 
the Latin classics himself, yet he regarded a knowledge 
of the Greek and Hebrew languages of more importance 
6 



62 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

to a minister of the Gospel, than a knowledge of the 
Latin. But highly as he prized a knowledge of the lan- 
guages, he did not esteem them as indispensable qualifi- 
cations for the -work of the ministry, and in all his own 
studies he had a special view to usefulness. 

In 1831 Wiley paid a visit to Fort Wayne, accom- 
panied by Richard S. Robinson. During their stay they 
held a series of meetings in the Masonic Hall, which 
exerted a salutary and powerful influence on the minds 
of the people. Fort Wayne was then a mission, and N. 
B. Griffith was the missionary. Wiley preached in the 
morning and Robinson at night, for several days in suc- 
cession ; and it was Wiley's opinion, if the meeting had 
continued a few days longer, that nearly the whole com- 
munity would have embraced religion. But the preach- 
ers had to leave to attend a camp meeting in Wayne 
county. Wiley frequently remarked that he never 
thought of their leaving Fort Wayne when they did, 
without feelino-s of regret. 

The fall of 1832 witnessed the death of one of the 
most eloquent and useful ministers that had ever labored 
in Indiana — Rev. John Strange, who died at Indian- 
apolis, December 2, 1832. Strange was received on trial 
into the Western conference in 1810, when he was not 
quite twenty-one years of age. He had been employed a 
part of the year previous by Rev. James Quinn, who was 
then presiding elder on the Muskingum district. His 
ministerial life was spent in Ohio and Indiana. It is not 
our object to give an account of his labors; for that 
would require a volume ; but to give a brief notice, and 
attempt a faint sketch of the man as one of the promi- 
nent actors in the early history of Methodism in Indiana. 
Strange was tall and slender, and stood remarkably erect. 
His hair was black as a raven, and his eyes were a mild 
blue, vet remarkably brilliant when he was animated. 



BEV. ALLEN WILEY. 63 

His education was not very thorough ; yet he was a close 
student, and but few men ever had a better command of 
language than he. For years he was in the habit of car- 
rying Walker's octavo dictionary in his saddle-bags, and 
of studying it closely ; and thus he acquired a very ready 
and happy use of language, and his storehouse of words 
seemed inexhaustible. His great attention to the choice 
of words frequently made his style quite florid and 
ornate. His leading mental traits were feeling and imag- 
ination, and, as a consequence, his sermons were highly 
descriptive. Sometimes his imagination would tower and 
soar aloft, till his hearers would be carried in feeling and 
fancy to the third heaven. He could paint a panoramic 
scene with the hand of a master, and he frequently em- 
ployed metaphoric representations with wonderful effect. 
Once, when preaching on the love of God, he compared it 
to an ocean, and then he endeavored to sound it with a 
line. While letting down his line, he became most im- 
passioned, and cried out, at the top of his shrill voice, 
" More line— more line !" and the effect was to enrapture 
and convulse the entire congregation on a large encamp- 
ment, while they seemed lost in wonder and adoration at 
the unfathomable depths of God's love to a lost world. 

Once, while on the Madison district, he was compelled, 
through feebleness and extreme indisposition, to desist 
from preaching, while in the midst of a sermon, at a 
quarterly meeting. But while abruptly closing, he ex- 
claimed, with a pathos all his own, and perfectly inim- 
itable, " God forbid that any of my hearers should wake 
up with the rich man in hell, where they must cry in vain 
for one drop of water to cool their parched tongues!" 
and, suiting the action to the word, he dipped his finger 
in a tumbler of water that was sitting on the pulpit, and 
letting a drop fall on his own tongue, fell immediately 
back upon his seat, while the congregation was suffused 



64 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

in tears, and sobs and groans were heard from every part 
of the audience. 

One secret of Strange' s influence and of the extraor- 
dinary effect of his eloquence, was in the power of his 
voice. Its tones were always clear and musical, and it 
was capable of every variety of inflection and modu- 
lation. He could elevate it, without much effort, so as 
to be heard distinctly twenty or thirty rods, and retain all 
its music. He could sing, or pray, or preach for any 
length of time without becoming in the least degree 
hoarse. Such was the attraction of his voice and manner 
that when he would ascend the stand at camp meeting, 
many who were scattered through the surrounding woods 
would run with speed to get on the camp-ground to hear 
him. He knew nothing of the rudiments of music as a 
science, yet he could sing better without science than 
most men could with it. His singing and prayers fre- 
quently produced the most powerful impressions, and at 
times his eloquence was overwhelming, holding his audi- 
ence at will, or raising them en masse from their seats. 
Strange's countenance was serious, approaching even to 
solemnity, and his appearance and manner dignified and 
commanding ; but his style frequently savored of pleas- 
antry, and in the social circle his wit and humor were 
rich and entertaining, although never degenerating into 
levity. But few men were ever more devoted to the 
interests of the Church, or were more perfectly influ- 
enced by a sense of duty, than John Strange. "When, in 
1814, he traveled White Water circuit, then a sparsely- 
settled frontier, he would go from one block-house to 
another, with his gun on his shoulder, to defend himself 
from the Indians, should he be attacked by them. Such 
conduct greatly endeared him to the people, and his 
monthly visits to the block-houses and forts were hailed 
with delight. Language can not describe the feeling and 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 65 

impressive manner in which, on such occasions, he would 
sing the hymn beginning, 

" And are we yet alive ?" 
But who would not be impressed with such a hymn under 
such circumstances ? The following incidents will serve 
to show his deadness to the world, and his trust in divine 
Providence : 

While on a visit to some of his old friends in Law- 
renceburg, in 1816, he had a severe attack of fever. 
Toward the close of his sickness the horses which he 
and Mrs. Strange rode got out of the stable, and strayed 
off. The family with whom he staid, and other friends, 
having made an unsuccessful search for the horses, 
seemed quite uneasy about them. Strange said to them, 
in a mildly-chiding way, "Why are you so uneasy about 
the horses ? All the horses in the world belong to the 
Lord, and he will give me just as many as I need." At 
another time his horse strayed away from him at Cincin- 
nati ; but he seemed perfectly unconcerned, and borrowed 
another to go to his appointments. Some one said to 
him, "Brother Strange, are you going without your 
horse ?" He replied, " There are hundreds of persons 
here who can hunt a horse as well as I can, who can not 
preach one word, and I shall go to my work." 

Strange may have erred in not devoting more attention 
to temporalities ; but his firm reliance upon divine Prov- 
idence must command our admiration. We shall ever 
revere the memory of the early pioneers of the cross, 
who visited our fathers in their cabin homes. In child- 
hood we were taught to venerate them as the embassa- 
dors of Christ, and in maturer years we have loved them 
for their work's sake. Their position in life, though one 
of toil and privation, was one of moral sublimity. They 
were laboring for posterity. Spurning the luxuries of 
life, the refinements of taste and elegance, the comforts 

6* 



66 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

of ease and affluence, and the allurements of the -world, 
they encountered untold perils and privations, that they 
might plant the standard of the cross on every hill-top 
and in every valley. That the voice of prayer and praise 
might ascend from the deepest solitudes of the wilder- 
ness, that the lamp of truth might light up the gloomy 
recesses of the lone cabin and the rude fort, and that the 
departing spirits of their rustic but noble tenants might 
be cheered and sustained in the solemn hour, by the 
promises of the Gospel and the hopes of a better world, 
they were willing to endure all things. A few of the 
early pioneers of the Gospel in the west yet linger among 
us, as noble specimens of a noble band. The rest live in 
our memory. Their early visits often brought childhood's 
sunniest smile to our cheek ; and they live in their works. 
The face of the country is dotted all over with temples 
consecrated to the worship of God, and where but late 
was the primeval solitude a living multitude stand up to 
bless God for a preached Gospel and a zealous ministry. 
Strange's mortal remains sleep in the quiet graveyard 
at Indianapolis. But recollections mournfully pleasing- 
rush upon the minds of thousands at the mention of his 
name. Though his voice is hushed in death, yet in fancy 
we still seem to hear those thrilling peals of eloquence 
from lips on which hung, in breathless admiration and 
awe, enraptured thousands. 0, how many listened, 
trembled, and wept, while he urged upon their con- 
sciences the claims of religion, throwing around it the 
interest of an endless duration ! How impressive was the 
doctrine of eternal life, dropping like dew from his per- 
suasive lips! "It was like the harp of David, which, 
struck by his skillful hand, sent forth more than mortal 
sounds." 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 67 



CHAPTER IX. 

Division of the Illinois conference — First session of the Indiana confer- 
ence — Report on Education — Subsequent action of the conference on the 
subject — Memorial to the state Legislature relative to the state univer- 
sity — Defense of the Memorial — Its failure — Founding- of Indiana Asbury 
University — Success of the enterprise — Origin of the Preacher's Aid 
Society — Action of the Lidiana conference on the resolutions of the 
General conference relative to a division of the Book Concern with the 
Canada conference — Wiley appointed to Indianapolis district — Reappointed 
to Madison district — Delegates to the General conference of 183G. 

In 1832 the Illinois conference was divided, and Indi- 
ana became a separate conference, including a small por- 
tion of Michigan, and Elizabethtown, in the state of Ohio. 
At the time of the division of the Missouri conference, in 
1 824, when Illinois and Indiana were separated from Mis- 
souri, and received the name of Illinois conference, the 
greater portion of the work and much the larger portion 
of the membership was in Indiana, and equity and pro- 
priety both seemed to say that the new conference should 
be called Indiana; yet, owing to the want of proper man- 
agement on the part of the Indiana delegates, or to some 
other cause, our state did not give name to a conference 
till 1 832. The Indiana conference held its first session in 
New Albany, beginning October 17, 1832. On the first 
day of its session A. Wiley, C. W. Ruter, and James 
Armstrong were appointed a committee to consider and 
report on the propriety of establishing a college or con- 
ference seminary. As the action of this conference was 
the first step toward the establishment of literary institu- 
tions under the patronage of the Church in Indiana, we 
insert the report of the committee, for the double purpose 



68 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

of recording the fact, and as the best means of showing 
the views of the conference on the subject of education 
at that time : 

"Next to the religion of the Son of God, your com- 
mittee consider the lights of science best calculated to 
lessen human woe, and to increase the sum of human 
happiness. Therefore, we are of opinion that the means 
of education ought to be placed within the reach of the 
community in general, so that all may have the oppor- 
tunity of obtaining an ordinary and necessary education. 
From observation and information, your committee are 
well convinced that where superior schools and colleges 
are neglected ordinary schools are almost universally in 
a languid state, and many persons are reared and live 
and die without any education. We, therefore, think 
that seminaries or colleges, under good literary and moral 
regulations, are of incalculable benefit to our country, and 
that a good conference seminary would be of great and 
growing utility to our people. We are aware that when 
a conference seminary is named, some of our preachers 
and many of our people suppose we are about to estab- 
lish a manufactory in which preachers are to be made ; 
but nothing is further from our views; for we are fully 
of Mr. Barrige's opinion, who, when comparing ministers 
to pens, remarked, that although the seminaries have 
been trying to make pens for several hundred years, they 
will not write till God nibs them. When we examine the 
state of the literary institutions of our country, we find 
that a majority of them are in the hands of people of 
other denominations — whether rightly or otherwise, we 
do not take upon us to determine — whose doctrines, in 
many respects, we consider as incompatible with the doc- 
trines of revelation, so that our people are unwilling — 
and we think properly so — to send their sons to such 
institutions. Therefore, we think it very desirable to 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 69 

have an institution under our own control, from which 
we can exclude all doctrines which we deem dangerous, 
thouQ-h. at the same time, we do not wish to make it so 
sectarian as to exclude or in the smallest degree repel the 
sons of our fellow-citizens from the same. To accomplish 
the foregoing objects we most earnestly recommend to the 
conference the use of the means that will lead to the end. 
We would advise that the presiding elders of the several 
districts be required to collect all the information in their 
power in reference to a site, and the means to build, and 
present the same to the next conference." 

Although it was desirable, on many accounts, to have 
a literary institution of high grade under the control of 
the conference, yet, after surveying the entire ground, it 
was thought, if we could receive something like an equita- 
ble share of privileges in the state university at Bloom- 
ington, that that would answer the wants of our people 
for several years ; and, accordingly, at the conference of 
1834, it was resolved to memorialize the state Legislature 
on the subject ; and, as the action of the Church in this 
matter has been grossly misrepresented at different times, 
and is perhaps imperfectly understood by many of her 
friends, we insert the memorial as the best means of com- 
municating authentic information on the subject : 
" To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Gen- 
eral Assembly of the State of Indiana : 
"Your memorialists represent to your honorable body 
that they, in common with their fellow-citizens, recognize 
in the munificent grant of lands by the General Govern- 
ment to our state — to endow a state institution of learn- 
ing — a correspondent obligation on our part so to manage 
it as not to defeat the charitable bequests of our common 
country. "We feel that cause of complaint exists in regard 
to this matter, yet we do not approach your honorable 
body as irritated and injured individuals asking for the 



70 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

redress of private wrongs, but as the patrons and advo- 
cates of general science, pleading her cause and imploring 
you, in your paternal character, to open her prison doors. 
We would impress it upon your honorable body that lit- 
erature belongs to no one religious denomination of per- 
sons, and that no one exclusively should be allowed to 
possess the keys that unlock her treasures. We appre- 
hend that the funds of our state college were designed, 
by their munificent donors, to patronize science and ad- 
vance the cause of general literature, and not of religious 
sects ; and should they be diverted from their original 
design, directly or indirectly, the donors are despoiled of 
a rich inheritance, and the legacy itself is betrayed to a 
very questionable purpose. We feel a deep and abiding 
interest in the success of the institution. We recognize 
in the provisions of its constitution — and particularly in 
the tenth section — the generous, confiding spirit in which 
its powers and functions were bestowed, as it were, in the 
absence of every uncharitable suspicion that the Hydra 
of sectarianism might erect its standard there. Yet we, 
in common with our fellow-citizens of the state, have to 
regret that our hopes in it have been disappointed. We 
look into the charter and read, that the places of presi- 
dent, professors, and teachers are open, soliciting capacity 
to occupy them, without regard to religious profession or 
doctrines. We then turn our eyes on the faculty, from 
the organization of the institution to this hour, and we 
see that one common hue, one common religious creed, 
characterizes every member, as if capacity and fitness 
were confined to one Church and one set of religious 
opinions. We have heretofore borne this without com- 
plaint, and would now be silent had we no higher object 
than to contend for the places and honors of the insti- 
tution. But when we see the youth of our own and other 
Churches voluntarily abandoning and renouncing the 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 71 

institution because the religion of their fathers is hut toler- 
ated and not domiciled there, we feel impelled, by every 
consideration that looks to the future, to speak out and 
invoke you to reclaim to the state the power bestowed on 
the trustees of filling their own vacancies, and give to 
them a fixed and definite term of service in the future. 
This wholesome restraint would, it is firmly believed, 
bring to the service of the institution a due proportion 
from other religious denominations, and breathe into it a 
new spirit, full of life and vigor. Your memorialists, 
therefore, earnestly solicit your interference in this matter ; 
and that you in the premises may do what is best for the 
good of science, is the prayer of your memorialists." 

Was there any thing unreasonable in this memorial ? 
The evils complained of were notorious. The funds of 
the university, belonging alike to the whole state, were 
employed for strictly- sectarian purposes ; and the institu- 
tion was regarded as belonging more to the Presbyterian 
Church than to the state. It found its place in the pub- 
lic prints, in the catalogue of Presbyterian colleges. The 
Church fostered it as an adopted child that had brought 
with it a rich legacy, to be employed in the Church's 
service. Students whose religious tenets differed from 
the do&'mas of Calvinism were regarded as io-norant or 
fanatical, and were compelled to hear the faith of their 
fathers, which they had learned to love and venerate, 
denounced as the rankest heresy. Nor was this all. 
Efforts were strenuously made to impress the public mind 
with the belief that none but Presbyterians were com- 
petent to teach in our higher institutions of learning. It 
was not enough that Methodists should be deprived of 
equal privileges in the university, but they must submit 
to be treated as constituting an inferior caste ; and though 
the Methodist Church was by far the most numerous sect 
in the state, yet the self-perpetuating feature in the Board 



72 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

of Trustees might forever preclude them from any repre- 
sentation on that Board. Under these circumstances, the 
conference asked as little as it could have asked. It did 
not petition for a Methodist president, professor, or 
teacher, but simply that the power of filling vacancies 
should be taken from the trustees and restored to the Leg- 
islature, where it rightly belonged, and that the trustees 
should have a definite term of service, thereby bringing 
the Board of Trustees, and, through them, all the inter- 
ests of the university more directly under the control of 
the representatives of the whole people, for whose com- 
mon benefit the university was founded, and to whom it 
belonged. It was further believed that by limiting the 
term of service on the part of the trustees, and making 
them elective by the Legislature, it would elevate the 
university to a higher place in the affections of the whole 
people, and that it would preserve the institution from 
being prostituted to sectarian or partisan ends. 

The memorial of the conference, and similar memorials, 
numerously signed, were sent up from different parts of 
the state, to the Legislature, at its next session ; and, 
although they were referred to an able committee, yet, 
from some cause, the committee have never made their 
report, and, from subsequent developments, it was be- 
lieved that those who were opposed to any change in the 
manner of controlling the university judged that it would 
be easier to smother the report while in the hands of the 
committee than to answer before the people for their 
opposition to a reform so just and equitable. There 
being now no hope of obtaining, at an early day, an 
equitable share of the privileges of the state university, 
the conference turned their thoughts seriously toward 
the establishment of a literary institution of high grade, 
under the control of the Church; and, accordingly, at 
the session of the conference in 1835, a plan was agreed 



RET. ALLEN WILEY. 73 

upon for the founding of a university. Subscriptions 
were taken up, and proposals made from different points 
in the state, with a view of securing the location of the 
university. Lafayette, Rockville, Greencastle, Putnam- 
ville, and Indianapolis were the principal competitors for 
the seat of the university. After receiving proposals, 
and hearing the representations from the different points, 
the conference, at its session at Indianapolis, in 1836, 
located the institution at Greencastle, and in 1837 a lib- 
eral charter was secured and a Board of Trustees incor- 
porated. In 1839 the first Catalogue was issued, and in 
1840 the first Commencement was held. In 1844 a plan 
of permanent endowment, by the sale of perpetual schol- 
arships, was projected. Efficient agents were appointed 
to carry out the plan. Up to 1848 there had been col- 
lected, in cash and notes, by the sale of scholarships for 
permanent endowment, $104,000. This amount, added 
to $10,000 given by ten individuals in 1840, for the 
endowment of the professorship of mathematics, makes 
$114,000 as the present fund. Agents are now engaged 
in collecting this endowment, as the notes fall due. that it 
may be safely and profitably invested for the permanent 
support of instruction in the university. The amount of 
endowment is being increased by the sale of additional 
scholarships. The Board of Trustees have established a 
medical department, which went into operation in the city 
of Indianapolis in November, 1849, and it is in contem- 
plation to open a law department at no distant day. 

But let us go back again to the session of the confer- 
ence in New Albany, in 1832. It having been announced 
to the conference that James Paxton, deceased, late of 
Indianapolis, had bequeathed a portion of his property to 
the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the state of Indiana, 
" to be employed in extending the work of the Lord in 
the bounds of the state of Indiana*, helping the most needy 



74 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

preachers belonging to that Church, whether effective or 
superannuated," James Armstrong was appointed an 
agent on behalf of the conference to receive the same. 
Allen Wiley was also appointed an agent on behalf of 
the conference to receive a similar bequest, left for the 
same purpose, by Isaac Swearingin. These, with one or 
two other bequests, laid the foundation for the Preachers' 
Aid Society of the Indiana Conference. 

The subject of the division of the capital stock of the 
Book Concern with the Canada conference was laid be- 
fore the Indiana conference, at its session in 1832, in due 
course, in accordance with a resolution of the previous 
General conference, which was, "That if three-fourths 
of the members of the several annual conferences present 
and voting on the subject shall concur therein, and as 
soon as the fact of such concurrence is certified by the 
secretaries of the several annual conferences, the Book 
Agents and the Book Committee in New York shall be, 
and they hereby are authorized and directed to settle 
with the agents of the Canada conference," etc. After 
considerable discussion, upon the vote being taken, the 
conference was unanimous in the negative. To this result 
Bishop Soule greatly contributed by the delivery of a 
forcible address to the conference on the subject. 

Brother Wiley's time having expired on the Madison 
district, he was appointed to the Indianapolis district, and 
was succeeded on the Madison district by James Havens. 
But at the close of the year, as Havens lived within the 
bounds of the Indianapolis district, and Wiley within the 
Madison district, and as neither of them were in the 
habit, in those days, of removing their families, they 
exchanged districts — or the bishop changed them — and 
Wiley was returned to the Madison district and Havens 
to Indianapolis. 

Wilev remained on the Madison district till the fall of 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 75 

1835; and, notwithstanding he had traveled over most 
of the ground as a circuit preacher, and was presiding 
elder of the district for seven years, with an interval of 
but one year, he continued to be acceptable and useful, 
and ranked high among all classes as an able, instructive, 
and profitable preacher. 

At the session of the conference held at Lafayette, 
October, 1835, C. W. Ruter, Allen Wiley, James Havens, 
and James L. Thompson were elected delegates to the 
ensuing General conference, to be held in Cincinnati in 
the May following. 



76 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER X. 

Wiley publishes a series of articles addressed to ministers — His style 
aa a preacher — Is stationed hi Xew Albany — Wiley as a pastor — Is ap- 
pointed presiding elder of Crawfordsville district — His feelings, and an 
account of his district — Sickness, etc. — Preaches the funeral of Rev. B. X. 
Barnes — Notice of Mr. Barnes — Temperance resolutions by the confer- 
ence — Wiley is stationed in Indianapolis — Anniversary of the centenary 
of Methodism — The eighth annual session of the conference is held in 
Lawrenceburg — Dr. Simpson's Centenary Sermon — Conference at Indian- 
apolis — Unprecedented increase in the membership of the Church — Wiley 
is appointed to Greencastle district — Conference at Terre Haute — Portrait 
of Bishop Roberts. 

In 1834 and 1835 Wiley wrote a series of articles, 
which appeared in the Western Christian Advocate under 
the signature of "A Friend to Ministers," which were 
designed as a help to a better understanding and per- 
formance of the duties of the ministry in the Methodist 
Episcopal Church. They were revised and prepared for 
publication in book form, by Mr. Wiley, a short time 
previous to his death. 

At the period of which we now write Wiley had arrived 
at his zenith as a popular preacher; for although he con- 
tinued a close student to the day of his death, his style 
of preaching was greatly modified after he had been sta- 
tioned a few years. Although his sermons continued 
equally instructive, and were certainly more practical, 
yet they lost much of that popular cast which marked 
his ministrations while on the district. His sermons 
might be denominated doctrinal, and his style was argu- 
mentative and elaborate. His sermons were carefully 
studied, and all his treasures of knowledge were laid 
under contribution for materials to enrich them. The 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 77 

etymology of words, verbal criticism, the natural sci- 
ences, profane and ecclesiastical history, all contributed 
their share; and, although his voice was heavy and 
monotonous, and his style unadorned with the flowers 
of rhetoric, yet would he enchain an audience for an 
hour and a half, or two hours, with the force of his 
arguments and the clearness of his illustrations, and so 
fixed would be their attention that they would scarcely 
be conscious of the time that had been consumed by the 
sermon. 

In 1836 Wiley was stationed in New Albany; and, 
although the duties of a stationed preacher differed 
widely from those of a presiding elder, and notwith- 
standing this was his first year in a station, he soon 
adapted himself to his new position, and attended to 
all the duties of the pastoral office with a systematic 
regularhy and fidelity seldom equaled, and perhaps 
never surpassed. In his visiting memorandum book he 
made a map of the town — as he did of all his subse- 
quent stations — and kept a record of the residences of all 
his members. He did his visiting by streets, taking each 
family in consecutive order, and visiting them all at reg- 
ular intervals of not more than three months apart, and 
frequently semi-quarterly. He left among his papers, at 
the time of his death, memorandum books, containing 
complete lists of the names of the members of the 
Church in nearly every circuit and station of which he 
had ever had charge. System characterized all his oper- 
ations and constituted the secret of his success in all his 
undertakings. 

At the close of Wiley's year in New Albany, he was 
appointed presiding elder on Crawfordsville district. This 
was to him the most afflicting appointment he ever re- 
ceived. It involved the trouble and expense of a long 
and difficult journey if he removed his family, and if he 

7* 



78 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

did not, it would require him to be absent from home the 
greater part of the year. After due deliberation, he con- 
cluded to remove his family to his residence in Switzer- 
land county, and leave them on his farm, where they had 
spent most of the time since he had entered the ministry. 
He found his district a heavy one, and the traveling diffi- 
cult. Much of the country was new, and the roads 
muddy and poorly improved. 

The following extract from one of his letters, dated 
Crawfordsville, February 6, 1838, will give some idea 
of his district and of his own state of mind : 

" When I wrote you last I was on the eve of starting 
to the extreme part of the district; but, in consequence 
of the ice, I had to travel between fifty and sixty miles 
extra, and a part of it on foot; but I have gone all 
around the district once, and held the second quarterly 
meeting for this station. Owing to a failure on the part 
of some of the preachers, and the bad weather, the pros- 
pects on the district are not very flattering ; but we have 
had some good quarterly meetings, particularly in this 
station, which is doing well. My own health is middling- 
good, and I try to be as cheerful as my present pilgrim 
state will permit ; but it is rather sad to be so far from a 
good home and a family which I so ardently love, and be 
in this new country, where comfortable houses are so 
scarce, and the traveling unpleasant this changeful winter. 
My mind still remains in a state of painful suspense on 
the subject of moving to this town. The people on the 
district are anxious that we should move ; but I fear we 
should be much embarrassed to live on what we should 
receive from the district, and you know I am determined 
to spend no more of my own money, as I have made all 
the sacrifice in that respect that I feel it my duty to make. 
It is rather my impression that we will not move this 
vear, as the district is so larire and badlv formed that I 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 79 

would not be willing to travel it as it now stands. To 
move where we can seldom see most of our children, and 
grandchildren, and old friends, in our old age, seems 
rather gloomy to my mind; but we must soon move to 
another world; but that will be in the order of Divine 
providence, and we must submit." 

During the ensuing summer Wiley was prostrated by a 
violent attack of fever, and for some time was apparently 
near the grave. After he began to recover he suffered 
much from chills and fever, and for some time feared that 
he would be unable to take work the ensuing year. But 
he recovered in time to attend the conference which met 
that fall in Rockville; and on the Sabbath of the con- 
ference he preached the funeral of Rev. Benjamin 1ST. 
Barnes, who had been stationed the year previous at 
Crawfordsville, and had died during the year. 

Brother Barnes was a native of Virginia. He em- 
braced religion, and united with the Methodist Episcopal 
Church in 1827. In 1830 he joined the Virginia confer- 
ence, in connection with which he labored acceptably and 
usefully for six years. In 1836 he located and came to 
Indiana, and was employed by the presiding elder to fill 
the Greencastle station till the close of the year. In the 
fall of 1837 he was readmitted into the traveling connec- 
tion, as a member of the Indiana conference, and sta- 
tioned at Crawfordsville, where the Lord crowned his 
labors with abundant success, and where he ended his 
life, on the 6th of September, 1838. His last sermon 
was preached at a camp meeting in the vicinity of Craw- 
fordsville, from, "We preach not ourselves, but Christ 
Jesus the Lord." 

The conference, at its session in Rockville, in 1838, 
adopted the following resolutions on the subject of tem- 
perance : 

1. Resolved, That Ave feel deeply convinced of the 



80 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

necessity, importance, and utility of the temperance ref- 
ormation, as carried on by the organization of temperance 
societies upon the principles of entire abstinence from all 
intoxicating drinks. 

2. That we view the organization which brings to bear 
against the cause of intemperance, the united energies 
of the philanthropists, moralists, and Christians who will 
engage therein, as the only safe and speedy remedy for 
intemperance, and therefore demand the hearty co-oper- 
ation of the above-named classes of society. 

3. That this conference requests each preacher to exert 
his influence in behalf of this good cause, by aiding in 
temperance investigations privately, co-operating with 
temperance organizations publicly, soliciting subscrip- 
tions to the Indiana Temperance Journal, and other tem- 
perance publications, that the public may be informed 
on this important subject. 

The Methodist ministry in Indiana were pioneers in the 
cause of temperance, having been temperance men from 
the beginning. But few temperance societies at this date 
were organized on the total-abstinence principle ; and, 
although this was several years in advance of the Wash- 
ingtonian reformation, the conference recognized no rem- 
edy as efficient and safe but that of total abstinence, and 
pledged themselves to co-operate with such organizations. 

As Wiley was unable, in view of the state of his 
health, to continue on the district, he was stationed in 
Indianapolis, where he remained the two following years. 

The conference, at its session in 1838, resolved to cele- 
brate the centenary of Methodism the ensuing year, and 
recommended that contributions be received in aid of the 
various religious and literary enterprises under the care 
of the conference; and, accordingly, collections were 
taken up in aid of the Bible and Missionary Societies 
and for the endowment of the university at Greencastle. 



EEY. ALLEN WILEY. 81 

In addition to these, the brethren in different localities 
appropriated their free-will thank-offerings to God to the 
erection of churches in their immediate vicinity, and by 
this means there were built a number of valuable cen- 
tenary churches in different parts of the state, which 
stand not only as memorials of the history of Methodism 
at large, but as monuments to the liberality, piety, and 
zeal of Indiana Methodism. 

The conference held its eighth annual session in Law- 
renceburg, beginning October 3, 1839. At this confer- 
ence, Bishop Roberts presided, assisted a portion of the 
time by Bishop Morris. The conference resolved to ob- 
serve Friday, the 25th of October, as the anniversary of 
the centenary of Methodism ; and accordingly on that 
day there was a conference prayer meeting held at sun- 
rise in the morning, which was conducted by James 
Havens, one of the oldest members of the conference. 
At ten o'clock, A. M., a centenary sermon was preached 
before the conference and a large number of citizens, by 
Dr. Simpson. The sermon was founded on Ezekiel xlvii, 
6, 9, and was one of remarkable beauty and power. 

The Doctor analyzed the structure of Methodism, and 
reviewed its history, and showed its adaptation to the 
great work of the world's evangelization ; that it was so 
arranged as to retain its internal vigor and purity, while, 
at the same time, it was adapted to indefinite expansion. 
At three o'clock, P. M., the conference held a meeting 
for the purpose of receiving centenary offerings, and the 
Conference Missionary Society held its anniversary in the 
evening. The exercises of the day were highly interest- 
ing, and produced a salutary impression upon the minds 
of all that were in attendance. 

Allen Wiley, E. R. Ames, C. W. Ruter, Augustus 
Eddy, and Aaron Wood were elected delegates to the 
ensuing General conference. 



82 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

The ninth annual session of the conference was held in 
Indianapolis, October 21, 1840. The year had been one 
of great prosperity ; and, although the General conference 
had, at its session in the May preceding, stricken off that 
portion of the conference lying in the state of Michigan, 
and attached it to the Michigan conference, yet there had 
been an increase of over seven thousand during the year. 
What an intimate connection there is between the 
Church's liberality and her prosperity ! During the year 
the Methodists of Indiana had perhaps doubled their 
ordinary Church contributions. They had honored God 
with their substance, and, in return, he had greatly 
increased their number and abundantly enriched them 
with spiritual blessings. Nearly the whole state was in 
a blaze of religious excitement. The conference adopted 
the following resolution : 

"Resolved, That the 25th day of December next be set 
apart to be observed as a day of thanksgiving and praise 
to almighty God for the mercies of the year — especially 
for the almost unprecedented increase in the membership 
of the Church, and that we recommend to all our people 
to make, on that occasion, a missionary thank-offering." 

Wiley's constitutional time having expired in the Indi- 
anapolis station, he was, at this conference, appointed to 
the Greencastle district, where he continued but one year. 
At the close of this year, conference met to hold its tenth 
session in Terre Haute. During its session the confer- 
ence requested Bishop Roberts to sit for his portrait, and 
allow the conference to pay the expense of the painting. 
The painting represents the Bishop as he would appear 
when presiding in conference. On the table before him 
are lying a number of papers and letters, some of which 
he has just opened ; and, although the painting may not 
be regarded as one of the finest specimens of the art, it 
presents a fair likeness of that venerable man, and fore- 



KEV. ALLEN WILEY. 83 

ibly expresses the easy and unaffected dignity for which 
he was so remarkable. The painting cost $66.58, and, 
by an order of the conference, was deposited in the 
chapel of the university at Greencastle, where it still 
remains. 

The session of the conference at Terre Haute was one 
of great harmony, and an unusual spirit of piety charac- 
terized all its deliberations, and its influence on the com- 
munity was most salutary, and most of the preachers felt 
that they had received a fresh anointing from on high. 



84: LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XI. 

Wiley is stationed in Madison — Session of the conference at Centerville, 
1842 — Action relative to a division of the conference — Formation of a new- 
charge in Indianapolis — History of Church extension in Indianapolis — 
Wiley is appointed to Connersville district — Session of conference at 
Crawfordsville — Delegates to General conference— Conference resolutions 
on the death of Bishop Roberts — Sketch of his lahors, etc. — Conference at 
Madison — Close of Wiley's term on Brookville district — Writes the Intro- 
duction and Progress of Methodism in south-eastern Indiana — Is stationed 
at Centenary Church, Xew Albany — Xotices of Beauchamp, Stevenson, 
Locke, Griffith, Armstrong, and Ray. 

In 1841 Wiley was stationed in Madison. In 1842 the 
conference met at Centerville. At this session it was 
resolved to request the ensuing General conference to 
divide the conference, and that the National Road should 
be the line of separation between the conferences. The 
towns east of Indianapolis, on the line, were to belong to 
the north conference, and Indianapolis, with the towns 
west, lying on the National Road, to belong to the south- 
ern division. But, at the next session of the conference, 
it was ap-reed that Terre Haute and the eastern charge in 
Indianapolis should belong to the northern conference. 
At the Centerville conference it was resolved to form a 
new charge in Indianapolis. That portion of the town 
lying east of Pennsylvania-street was separated from the 
other charge, and was designated as the Eastern charge, 
and John S. Bay less was appointed to it. This was the 
beginning of Church extension in Indianapolis. Though 
Bay less had no church, he collected a congregation in 
the court-house, and organized his charge, which has 
continued to be one of the most efficient and prosperous 
Churches in Indiana. 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 85 

Up to 1842 the Methodists had but one church in 
Indianapolis, and that an old building which was begin- 
ning to be considered unsafe, as the walls were consid- 
erably cracked. The Eastern charge erected Roberts 
Chapel, a fine, commodious church, with a basement for 
the accommodation of the Sabbath school, class meet- 
ings, and preacher's study. The church has a front 
gallery, and is surmounted with a steeple and a fine bell. 
The Western charge, as it was then called, took down 
their old church and erected on the same lot an elegant 
church seventy-Jive feet by eighty, with the basement story 
above ground, containing a lecture-room, class-rooms, 
library-room, and study. The entrance to the body of 
the church is from the vestibule in front, by two flights 
of stairs. The church has a front gallery, two central, 
and two side aisles. 

The first Methodist church in Indianapolis was a hewed 
log house, which the brethren purchased in 1825, and 
subsequently enlarged, so that it would hold about two 
hundred persons. The whole cost of the lot and house 
did not exceed $300. This was used as a school-house 
for several years; and it was not till 1829 that they were 
able to complete a better building. There are now — in 
1852 — six Methodist churches within the corporate limits 
of the city, exclusive of the African Methodist church ; 
and they are all of them neat and commodious edifices. 
The two largest — "Wesley Chapel and Roberts Chapel — 
are each capable of seating at least one thousand persons, 
and, with the appurtenances, the cost of both was about 
$20,000. All these churches have been built within the 
last ten years, illustrating most clearly the advantages 
of a system of Church extension. 

In 1842 Wiley was appointed to the Connersville dis- 
trict, where he remained four years. In 1843 the name 
of the district was chano-ed from Connersville to that of 



86 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Brookville. The twelfth session of the Indiana confer- 
ence was held in Crawfordsville, October 18, 1843. At 
this session the following brethren were elected delegates 
to the ensuing General conference : M. Simpson, Allen 
Wiley, E. R. Ames, John Miller, C. W. Ruter, Aaron 
Wood, Augustus Eddy, and James Havens. 

Bishop Roberts having died during the year, the con- 
ference adopted the following resolutions : 

1. Resolved, That we regard, with deep gratitude, that 
providence which granted us the privilege of claiming, 
for the period of twenty years, Bishop Roberts as a 
fellow-citizen and a patriarchal minister resident among us. 

2. Resolved, That, in view of the intellectual and 
moral worth of Bishop Roberts, and his kind regard for 
us and the whole Church, his death be considered as a 
paternal bereavement to the whole Church in general, 
and to the Indiana conference in particular, which calls 
for proper humiliation and resignation. 

3. Resolved, That we shall be greatly wanting to our- 
selves and to the cause of God if we do not imbibe his 
spirit and imitate his godly example. 

4. Resolved, That the remains of the venerable 
Bishop — the widow consenting — be removed from their 
present obscure lodgment, and transferred to Greencastle. 

5. Resolved, That a suitable monument or tombstone 
be erected to the memory of the Bishop. 

6. Resolved, That the expenses incurred in carrying 
into effect the last two resolutions be met by the Indiana 
conference, or, should the conference be divided, by 
the two conferences jointly, according to their numerical 
strength. 

7. Resolved, That Bishop Soule be requested to furnish 
a suitable epitaph or inscription for the Bishop's tomb. 

8. Resolved, That M. Simpson, and the presiding elder 
of Greencastle district, and the presiding elder of the 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 87 

district in which Bishop Roberts was buried, be a com- 
mittee to carry into effect the foregoing resolutions. 

9. Resolved, That the foregoing resolutions be spread 
upon the journals of the conference, and a copy of them 
be furnished to the aged widow of the Bishop, and also 
that a copy of them be forwarded to the editor of the 
Western Christian Advocate for publication. 

The remains of Bishop Eoberts were accordingly re- 
moved to Greencastle and interred in the college grounds, 
and an appropriate monument of limestone marble was 
erected over his grave; but as yet no inscription is 
placed thereon. No man ever stood higher in the re- 
gards of the ministry in Indiana than Bishop Roberts. 
His presence was always hailed with delight, and his 
influence among them was that of a father over his 
children. Bishop Roberts was born in Frederick county, 
Maryland, August 2, 1778. He made a profession of 
religion and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church 
at the age of fifteen or sixteen. He was received on 
trial in the Baltimore conference in the spring of 1802. 
He was elected to the episcopacy in 1816, and continued 
to discharge the duties of that important and highly- 
responsible office to the entire satisfaction of the Church 
to the day of his death. Up to 1824 there was no pro- 
vision in the Discipline for the support of a bishop's fam- 
ily, and he consequently received, during eight years 
service in the episcopal office, but two hundred dollars 
per year, and traveling expenses. From 1820 to 1824, 
Bishop M'Kendree being in poor health, the whole weight 
of episcopal labor fell upon him and Bishop George. 
There were then eleven conferences, extending from 
Maine to Mississippi. His labors, consequently, in trav- 
eling and attending conferences, were incalculably great. 
But, amid all his privations and toils, he never com- 
plained. As a faithful, unflinching servant of the 



00 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Church, he counted not his own life dear, so that he 
might finish his course with joy, and the ministry he had 
received of the Lord Jesus to testify the Gospel of the 
grace of God. 

Bishop Roberts's natural abilities were of a high order, 
and he had accumulated a rich store of various and use- 
ful knowledge. As a preacher he was clear and forcible 
in the presentation of truth, and was often truly eloquent. 
At times he would so captivate his hearers that they 
would forget where they were, and lose sight of every 
surrounding object except the preacher and his theme. 
As a superintendent he was discriminating, affable, con- 
ciliatory, and yet firm. He preached the Gospel in all 
the states of the Union, and left behind him much fruit 
of his labors, and many seals to his ministry. He died 
at his residence, in Indiana, on the 26th of March, 1843. 

Bishop Roberts was pre-eminently a peace-maker, both 
in the councils of the Church and in his social inter- 
course. The late Bishop Bascom remarked, a few days 
previous to his death, that the Methodist Church had 
never been honored and blessed with a purer and better 
man in the episcopacy than Bishop Roberts ; and added, 
"But for his timely interposition in my behalf, I know 
not what would have become of me. I have long re- 
garded him as my ecclesiastical senior." Although Bishop 
Roberts belonged to the whole Church, yet he belonged 
to Indiana Methodism in a peculiar and important sense. 
He gave shape and direction to its early movements, and 
saw it flourish and approximate a vigorous maturity be- 
neath his fostering care. He died, as he had lived, in 
the faith of Christ, with the certain hope of eternal life, 
and in love and peace with all mankind. 

The thirteenth session of the Indiana conference was 
held in Bloomington, September 25th, 1844, Bishop 
Waugh presiding. At this conference resolutions were 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 89 

adopted, approving of the editorial course of Dr. Bond, 
and of the votes given, by the Indiana delegation, in the 
preceding General conference, in the case of Bishop 
Andrew, and of non-concurrence with the recommenda- 
tion of the General conference relative to the alteration 
of the sixth restrictive rule of the Discipline. 

The conference for 1 845 was held in Madison ; and 
with the close of the ensuing year terminated Wiley's 
constitutional term on the Brookville district. During 
1845 and 1846 he published a series of articles in the 
Western Christian Advocate on the "Introduction and 
Progress of Methodism in south-eastern Indiana," which 
were extensively read, and which would doubtless have 
been revised and given to the public in a more permanent 
form had his life been spared. 

In 1846 Wiley was stationed at the Centenary Church 
in New Albany, where, in addition to his regular duties, 
he delivered a series of Wednesday evening lectures on 
the decalogue, and also upon the Lord's prayer. The 
following is an outline of his introductory lecture upon 
the ten commandments : 

1. Man had, originally, an intuitive or perfectly-re- 
vealed knowledge of his Maker's will, which constitutes 
the perfect rule of human conduct. 

2. A uniform continuance in the performance of duty 
would have secured the Divine approbation, and with it a 
continued knowledge of God and his will. 

3. A failure to perform duty forfeited the approbation 
of God, and caused him measurably to withdraw from 
man, in consequence of which his mind became dark and 
his moral sense greatly weakened ; so that, for more than 
two thousand, five hundred years, the mass of mankind 
imperfectly knew, and more imperfectly did, the will of 
God. 

4. Jehovah being about to make known his will a 

8* 



90 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

second time, employs such august scenery as is calculated 
to fix man's attention and inspire him with faith in a 
present God and in the reality of the revelation which he 
was about to make. Thunders roar ; lightnings flash ; 
thick darkness settles down ; the voice of a loud trumpet 
is heard ; the mountain is covered with smoke ; the fire 
appears in the midst of the smoke, so that the mountain 
smokes as a furnace ; that is, the smoke and flame com- 
mingle and ascend periodically ; the whole mountain 
trembles — all of which causes the people to tremble in 
the camp. Yet Moses brings them out of the camp, to 
the foot of the mountain, to meet God. 

5. In this dreadful perturbation of the elements and 
the consternation of the people, Moses speaks, probably 
in prayer, for protection and support for himself and the 
people, and to signify his readiness to hear. God answers 
him in a loud voice, probably assuring him and the people 
of protection and of his purpose to make important com- 
munications ; and then he came down on the mountain in 
the manifestation of his glory. 

6. He then calls Moses up to himself in the mount, 
and employs him in providing for the safety of the people 
by checking any undue degree of curiosity, which would 
have led them to approach God presumptuously. 

Reflections. — What an evil thing is sin, which has 
caused such darkness and misery in the world for so long 
a period ! How important is God's law, which was 
revealed with such displays of awful grandeur and 
power ! 

As this was the last year of Wiley's effective ministry, 
I shall close this chapter with a brief notice of some of 
the more prominent among his associates in the ministry 
in Indiana, who preceded him in their removal from the 
Church militant to the Church triumphant. 

Rev. William Beauchamp died, October, 1824, at 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 91 

Paoli, Orange county, la., in the fifty-third year of his 
age. He was a native of Delaware. He made a profes- 
sion of religion, and united with the Church when quite 
young. In 1794 he joined the itinerancy, and his first 
appointments were Alleghany circuit, Pittsburg, New 
York, Boston. In 1811 he located, but continued his 
labors with great success as a local preacher. In 1815 
he removed to Chilicothe, Ohio, and took the editorial 
charge of the Western Christian Monitor, the only peri- 
odical, at that time, in our Church. He edited the Mon- 
itor with conspicuous ability, and preached in and about 
Chilicothe with eminent success. He had previously pub- 
lished a volume of "Essays on the Truth of the Christian 
Religion," a work of decided merit, in the estimation of 
good critics. In 1817 he removed to Mount Carmel, Illi- 
nois, and superintended the formation of a new settle- 
ment. In 1822 he re-entered the itinerant ministry, and 
was stationed in St. Louis, where he labored with success 
for one year, and commanded the esteem and respect of 
the community to such an extent that a number of gen- 
tlemen who were not members of the Church proposed to 
secure him a liberal salary if he would remain among 
them permanently. In 1823 he was appointed presiding 
elder of the Indiana district, which included eleven vast 
circuits. He was elected, the same year, a delegate to 
the General conference in Baltimore ; and such was the 
impression produced upon that body by his remarkable 
talents, that he lacked but two votes of being elected to 
the episcopal office. Had it not been for the fact that so 
large a proportion of his ministerial life had been spent 
out of the itinerancy, his name would have unquestion- 
ably honored the history of our episcopacy. On his 
return to his district he was seized with an affection of 
the liver, and, after suffering patiently for about six 
weeks, fell asleep in Christ, with the full hope of immor 



92 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

tality. William Beauchamp was a man of genuine great- 
ness. He was one of nature's noblemen and God's elect. 
He was frequently styled, " The Demosthenes of the 
west." He was a ripe scholar, having studied the Greek 
and Hebrew languages after he entered the ministry. 
His manner as a public speaker was natural and easy. 
His voice was uniform, and remarkably soft in social 
conversation, but in argument energetic. In his preach- 
ing, when holding forth the promises and invitations of 
the Gospel, there w r as a soft tenderness, a sweetness in 
his voice, produced frequently by gentle breaks, as if the 
rising sympathies of his soul obstructed, in some degree, 
his utterance, when a gentle, thrilling sensation appeared 
to move the listening multitude, all bending forward to 
catch every sentence or word that fell from his lips. 
This peculiarity has frequently been admired. But when 
he became argumentative, and discussed doctrinal points, 
or when false doctrines were attacked, the tone of his 
voice w r as elevated, his whole system became nerved, and 
his voice assumed a deep, hollow tone, and then soon 
became elevated to its highest key, and fell like peals of 
thunder on the listening assembly. 

On one occasion the force of his powerful eloquence 
was fully demonstrated. It was on a subject of contro- 
versy. His antagonist, who had sat and listened, for 
some time, to arguments too powerful for him to answer, 
beo-an to look as if the voice which he now heard came 
from another world through the shadow of a man. He 
rose, apparently with a view to leave the house ; but, 
being overcome, he staggered, caught by the railing, 
reeled, and fell into his seat, and there sat, overwhelmed 
and confounded, till the discourse was closed, when he 
quietly left the house. 

Beauchamp's manner of preaching was plain. He 
seldom divided his text into different heads, but took 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 93 

the natural divisions of his subject. His sermons were 
deep, and made a lasting impression on the minds of his 
hearers, because they were both doctrinal and practical. 
Holiness was his favorite theme. There was seldom a 
shout raised in the assembly under his preaching; but 
strict attention was always paid to his discourses. Every 
eye would be fixed on the speaker, and frequently the 
people were all bathed in tears. 

Benjamin C. Stevenson died in 1831. Although he 
had been but a few years in the ministry, he had distin- 
guished himself as a talented, dignified, amiable, and 
efficient minister, and one who gave bright promise of 
extensive usefulness to the Church. He entered the itin- 
erancy in 1827, and filled the following appointments: 
Eel River, Carlisle, Galena mission, Madison, and Indi- 
anapolis. But shortly after receiving the last appoint- 
ment, he exchanged earth for heaven. 

Strange, whose death occurred in 1832, has been 
noticed in a preceding chapter. 

The year 1834 witnessed the death of three of the 
most energetic and efficient ministers that ever labored 
in Indiana — George Locke, Nehemiah B. Griffith, and 
James Armstrong. 

Locke was a native of Kentucky. He made a profes- 
sion of religion, and united with the Church in his eight- 
eenth year. He was admitted on trial in the Kentucky 
conference in 1818, and was appointed to a circuit in 
east Tennessee. In 1825 he was transferred to the Illi- 
nois conference, and appointed to Corydon circuit, where 
he remained two years. His next appointment was 
Charlestown circuit, where he remained about six months, 
and was then appointed presiding elder on the Wabash 
district. In 1832, the Illinois conference being divided, 
he was transferred to Indiana, and appointed to Corydon 
circuit; but, his health failing, he was compelled to retire 



94 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

from the work, and, in the fall of 1833, took a superan- 
nuated relation, and on the 15th of July, 1834, was called 
from suffering to reward. Brother Locke labored with 
success in Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana, 
and left behind him many seals to his ministry. He pos- 
sessed a logical and well-disciplined mind, was an accu- 
rate and strong reasoner, and preached like a man who 
felt that he was moved upon by the Holy Ghost to take 
upon him the office of the ministry. He possessed great 
energy of character, and was eminently successful in his 
work. ' But a mysterious Providence removed him from 
earth in the midst of his usefulness, and apparently in 
the midst of his days, being in his thirty-eighth year. 
His death was most triumphant. He expired shouting, 
"Glory to God!" A short time previous to his death he 
remarked to a brother who had called to see him, " Con- 
tinue to pray for me, but not for my recovery. The 
thought of continuing with my family is pleasing; but 
the thoughts of departing are triumphant." At another 
time he said, " I have the crown in view; I glory in the 
prospect;" but, checking himself, he said, "No; this is 
not exactly what I would say ; we must glory in noth- 
ing but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. But I may 
say — I will say, that I rejoice in the prospect. 0, the 
communion of saints ! How sweet the communion of 
saints !" 

Griffith's career as a minister was comparatively brief, 
but brilliant. Most of the circuits on which he labored 
were blessed with powerful revivals of religion. He was 
an able and zealous defender of the doctrines and Disci- 
pline of the Church; and although eminently successful 
as a revivalist, he was equally distinguished as a doc- 
trinal preacher. He was a native of ISTew York ; but was 
converted to God in Ohio, at about the age of twenty- 
one, under the instrumentality of William H. Raper. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 95 

The next year after his conversion he made a profession 
of sanctification, which lie maintained to the day of his 
death. He was admitted into the traveling connection 
in the year 1822, and labored with great efficiency to 
the close of life. He died in St. Joseph county, Indi- 
ana, August 22, 1834. Nearly his last words were, 
" Glory, glory, glory! Sweet heaven, I am coming!" 

James Armstrong was a native of Ireland, but came to 
America with his parents when but a child. He was 
converted to God, and licensed to preach as a local 
preacher while a young man. After his marriage he 
went into business in Baltimore, and kept a shoe store, 
and preached extensively as a local preacher. In 1821 
he removed to New Albany, Indiana, and in the fall of 
the same year joined the Missouri conference, and was 
appointed to Charlestown circuit, where he remained two 
years, at the close of which he was ordained an elder, 
and, the ensuing year, was appointed to Bloomington 
circuit, where he had great success, as the circuit in- 
creased in membership, during the year, from four hun- 
dred and one to six hundred and five. At the close 
of this year he was appointed to the Indiana district as 
the successor of the talented Beauchamp. The district, 
at that time, extended from Madison, on the Ohio river, 
across by the way of Bloomington to the Wabash, and 
down the Wabash, to the extreme south-western point 
of Indiana — an appointment which, considering the new- 
ness of the country and the state of the roads, must 
have given a presiding elder hard times and a plenty of 
them. At the close of the year his district was some- 
what curtailed on the west, but still extended from the 
Ohio river to Crawfordsville. On this district he labored 
with zeal and success for four years. His next appoint- 
ment was Indianapolis station, where he accomplished a 
good work. He was appointed, the ensuing year, to 



yb LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Crawfordsville circuit, and the year following, to Indi- 
anapolis district. In 1831 he was appointed to Craw- 
fordsville district, which then embraced all the "Wabash 
country north of Parke county, Indiana, and Paris, Illi- 
nois, except Missisinniway and Fort Wayne. It embraced 
the Iroquois and South Bend missions on the north, and 
Indianapolis station and the contiguous circuits on the 
south. When the Indiana conference was separated from 
Illinois, in 1832, there was formed a missionary district 
in north Indiana, and he was placed on it. The ensuing- 
year the district was enlarged on the south and east, and 
called the north-western district, and Armstrong was 
appointed to it. Near the close of this year he finished 
his labors on earth. He died at his own residence in 
Laporte county, Indiana, September 12, 1834, being 
about forty-eight years of age, and having spent thir- 
teen years as a traveling preacher, and most of the 
time on extensive circuits or districts. Armstrong was 
neat and tidy in his personal appearance. He possessed 
a sprightly mind and very ready wit. He usually stud- 
ied his sermons well, and their introduction and out- 
line evinced close thought, and the intelligent hearer 
would promise himself an intellectual feast; but as he 
advanced with his subject, he would warm with his 
theme, and, becoming excited, would throw system and 
arrangement to the winds. But what the hearer lost in 
intellectual enjoyment, was amply made up to him in a 
rich flow of impassioned feeling. Most of his preaching 
was aimed for present effect. In social life his innocent 
humor and sprightly, cheerful conversation, always made 
him an agreeable and welcome guest. He left his im- 
press on Indiana Methodism, and still lives in the grateful 
recollection of thousands. 

The name of Edwix Ray is worthy of honorable men- 
tion as a coadjutor of Wiley, and an efficient laborer in 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 97 

planting and building up the Church in Indiana. He 
was born in Kentucky, July 26, 1803. His father, Rev. 
John Ray, entered the ministry about the year 1790, and 
after traveling ten years located. Remaining local for 
eighteen years, he re-entered the itinerancy, and contin- 
ued to travel as long as he was able. He was transferred 
to the Indiana conference as superannuated preacher ; 
but he never made any claim upon the funds of the con- 
ference. He sustained the relation of a superannuate to 
the conference at the time of his death. He was a man 
of great force of character. Although a native and a 
resident of a slave state, he belonged to that class of 
preachers who were neither ashamed nor afraid to de- 
nounce slavery as a sin against God and humanity, and a 
curse to both master and slave. He gave as a reason for 
wishing to be transferred to Indiana, that he was utterly 
unwilling to die and be buried in a slave state, and, like 
Cravens and a host of others of that day, he ardently 
opposed the institution of slavery all his life. His re- 
mains were buried about four miles north of Greencastle, 
near a country church. 

Edwin embraced religion at a camp meeting in Ken- 
tucky, July 26, 1819. "When his father, who was in an 
adjoining tent, heard that he was praying, he was deeply 
affected, and solemnly promised God, if he would convert 
him, that he would give him up to the Lord all his days. 
God heard his request, and answered his prayer, and 
Edwin, like young Samuel, was devoted to the service 
of the sanctuary. When his father, who was then ad- 
vanced in life, heard of his death, he remarked, '* The 
news of his death was not as afflicting to me as a location. 
I would willingly supply his place with another son — if I 
had one — only to live as long, and be as useful as Edwin 
was. But the Lord has taken him home. Bless the 
Lord!" Few men were ever more successful in the min- 

9 



98 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

istry than Edwin Ray during his brief career. Revival 
influence attended his labors, to a greater or less extent, 
in every charge to which he was ever appointed. He 
was admitted on trial in the Kentucky conference in 1822, 
and labored with diligence and success in that conference 
for two years, at the close of which he presented himself 
as a voluntary transfer to the Illinois conference, which 
then included the states of Illinois and Indiana. He 
labored with zeal and success in Yincennes, Bloomington, 
and Indianapolis circuits, and Madison station, success- 
ively. In 1827 and 1828, when on Indianapolis circuit, 
his labors were extensively blessed, and the increase on 
the circuit, during the year, amounted to two hundred and 
eighty -five. But the circuit was large, and his labors were 
beyond his strength, and during this year his constitution 
began to give way. His zeal knew no bounds, but his want 
of ability ; so that, as much as in him lay, he was ready 
to serve the Church in any capacit} T . During this year the 
Church in Indianapolis made arrangements for building 
a good house of worship on Meridian-street, just south 
of the Governor's circle, one of the most eligible sites for 
a church edifice in the city. Much would have been 
gained to the cause of religion, if our early churches in 
many places had been more favorably situated. For some 
cause they were frequently located in the outskirts of the 
town or village, or on some obscure street, or out-of-the- 
way place, where they would be free from the noise and 
bustle of the people. But fortunately a better policy has 
been adopted by the Church, and instead of seeking 
obscurity and privacy, she now '-'utters her voice in the 
streets: she crieth in the chief place of concourse, in 
the opening of the gates; in the city she uttereth her 
words." The true position of the Church is aggressive. 
Her mission is to the people. She is to go in search of 
the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The Church on 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 99 

earth is a militant Church, and she should plant her bat- 
teries where she can do the greatest amount of execution. 
Her churches should occupy the most central and com- 
modious situations, and should be rendered attractive by 
their comfort and neatness. 

But to resume our subject. In 1828 Ray was stationed 
in Madison ; and, although there was a considerable seces- 
sion from the Church, growing out of the Radical contro- 
versy, he sustained himself well, and labored with a 
single eye to the good of the Church. In the conference 
year of 1829 and 1830, his health having failed, he 
received a superannuated relation ; but such was his zeal 
for God, that he labored about half of the year in Terre 
Haute, although his family was settled in the vicinity of 
Indianapolis; and in order to reach his station, he had 
to travel about eighty miles. His health having im- 
proved some during the year, he was stationed there the 
ensuing year. Having finished the labors of the year, he 
started for conference ; but had proceeded but a few miles 
when he was taken sick, and after eleven days of extreme 
suffering, he closed his earthly pilgrimage in peace. He 
left many seals to his ministry, and a number who are 
now in the ministry in Indiana, were led to Christ through 
the instrumentality of Edwin Ray. During his illness he 
said to his wife, " The religion which I have professed 
and preached has comforted me in life, supported me in 
affliction, and now enables me to triumph in death." 

Ray possessed a vigorous intellect, and was well versed 
in the doctrines of Christianity. He preached with en- 
ergy and success, and was a workman that needed not to 
be ashamed. But, to all human appearance, Ray, and 
Locke, and Griffith, and Armstrong, and Beauchamp, all 
went down to premature graves through excess of labor. 
It is better to wear out than to rust out in any profession, 
and especially in that of the ministry. But has the 



100 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Church a right to work her ministry to death ? Or is it 
right for ministers to abridge the period of their service 
by one -third for the sake of accomplishing a little more 
in a given period of time? In the ministry there are 
more men who have grown prematurely old than in any 
other profession in the land, and more who have died in 
the midst of their days, just as their faculties were ma- 
tured, and their ripened experience had qualified them 
for increased usefulness. And when we remember that 
these men have given their all to the Church, and have 
made little or no provision for the families which they 
leave behind them, the thought is a gloomy one. Had 
they devoted their attention to secular pursuits, they 
mio-ht have amassed wealth, and the evening of their 
days been cheered by a competency of the good things 
of this life. But if old age should find them in compara- 
tive penury, they have a rich treasure laid up in heaven ; 
and if death should call them in the meridian of life, 
they will commit their fatherless children to the care of 
Him who feeds the young ravens when they cry. But is 
it right for the Church to exact so much? — to draw so 
largely upon the faith and patience of her ministry ? — or 
would it not be better, where sacrifice is needful, that it 
should be mutual, and that each should vie with the 
other in efforts to serve a common cause — the dissem- 
ination of truth and the salvation of men ? 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 101 



CHAPTER XII. 

Kev. Allen Wiley superannuates in 1847 — Eeview of his life and char- 
acter — Letter to his family — Letter to a criminal under sentence of 
death— His style as a preacher — Writes the Pastoral Address on hehalf 
of his conference — Death of Wiley. 

At the session of the conference held in Evansville, in 
October, 1847, Wiley took a superannuated relation to 
the conference, but not because he was disqualified, either 
mentally, morally, or physically, for effective service as 
minister. He had served the people of his charge but 
one year, during his present stay among them, and served 
them faithfully. His pulpit labors evinced ripe scholar- 
ship, deep theological research, and an intimate acquaint- 
ance with Christian experience and the word of God. 
All who heard him felt that he was a master workman, 
able rightly to divide the word of God, and give each of 
his hearers a portion in due season. In pastoral labors 
he was abundant and faithful. He attended Sabbath 
school and the weekly Bible class. He visited from 
house to house, and was especially attentive to the sick 
and the poor. But, for some cause, a portion of his 
charge desired a new preacher. What a charm there is in 
that word new! The wishes of his charge were made 
known to the bishop, and Wiley was informed that it 
was thought best to remove him to a new charge. But 
where should he go? — why was he not wanted back? 
were questions that presented themselves to his mind 
with fearful force. He knew he had studied to show him- 
self approved, both to God and men. He had not fallen 
behind the times. His intellect was vigorous, his health 
good, his piety and industry unquestioned. His learning 

9* 



102 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

and theological attainments were confessedly of a high 
order. Why, then, not want him back? Simply because 
a few of the people wanted something new. 

Perhaps Wiley was more sensitive than he should 
have been. But it would be difficult for any one simi- 
larly situated to have been less so. His amiable wife, 
who, for more than thirty years, had shared with him the 
vicissitudes of an itinerant life, had been unable for some 
time, in consequence of a rheumatic affection, to walk 
across her room. Her helpless and deeply-afflicted con- 
dition rendered the thought of removal increasingly pain- 
ful to the mind of Wiley ; and, after mature deliberation, 
he concluded that duty required him to desist from trav- 
eling for a season. He accordingly received a superannu- 
ated relation to the conference, and removed his family 
to Vevay, where he designed to await the openings of 
Providence. But on the 23d of July, 1848, he died in 
peace, after a few days' illness, in the 59th year of his 
age and the thirty-first of his itinerant ministry. 

Before noticing the circumstances of his death, we will 
briefly review his life and character. Rev. Allen Wiley 
was born January 15, 1789; came to Indiana territory 
with his parents in 1804; joined the Church, as a seeker 
of religion, April 18, 1810, and made a profession of 
religion in the June following. He was licensed to 
exhort in 1811, and in 1813 to preach. Commenced 
traveling December 1, 1816. He was ordained a deacon 
by Bishop M'Kendree, in 1818, and an elder by Bishop 
Roberts, in 1820. Eleven years of his ministry were 
spent in traveling laborious and extensive circuits. Four- 
teen years he was presiding elder, and a portion of that 
time his district extended from the Ohio river to the 
vicinity of Lake Michigan, and required an amount of 
energy, sacrifice, and toil of which it is now difficult to 
conceive. He spent five years in our principal towns as 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 103 

stationed preacher. He was elected, and served as a 
delegate in the General conferences of 1832, 1836, 1840, 
and 1844. 

Indiana was the principal field of Wiley's ministerial 
labors; for out of thirty appointments, twenty-seven of 
them were exclusively in Indiana. 

Simplicity was a leading trait in the character of 
Wiley. In his person and manners he was plain and 
free from affectation. In social intercourse he was as 
artless as a child, and in the execution of his plans he 
knew no stratagem — he practiced no duplicity. Down- 
right honesty characterized all his movements. While 
presiding elder, he never created expectations in the 
minds of his preachers in reference to appointments or 
personal accommodations that were not realized. 

Frankness marked his intercourse with all men. It 
was not difficult for those who associated with Wiley to 
learn the estimate which he placed upon their talents or 
characters. His frankness was sometimes the occasion 
of offense ; for there are not a few who would rather be 
flattered than listen to the truth. But such was Wiley's 
conscientiousness, in matters both small and great, that 
he said and did what he believed to be right, apparently 
regardless of consequences. 

Decision was a marked trait in the character of Wiley. 
He formed his plans carefully, but when formed, he ad- 
hered to them with great tenacity. Entering the min- 
istry with a very limited stock of learning, burdened with 
the cares of a growing family, in a new country, with few 
books, and poor opportunities, and little means for pro- 
curing others, nothing but an energy that bade defiance 
to difficulties ever enabled him to become distinguished 
for learning or ministerial ability. Wiley was not a brill- 
iant genius; but he was an energetic, hard-working man. 
He never lagged behind in any thing. If he was walking 



104 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the street with a friend, he was usually a step in advance. 
His mind retained its freshness and vigor to the close of 
life, because he continued learning. Only the year pre- 
vious to his death he was one of a large class engaged 
in the study of phonography, and no one of the class 
learned faster or more perfectly than he. He never did 
any thing by the halves. In his estimation, whatever 
was worth doing at all was worth doing well. Wiley was 
an industrious, time-saving man. He usually rose at four 
in the morning, and, for a number of years, he was in the 
daily habit of reading portions of the holy Scriptures in 
the Hebrew, Latin, Greek, and English languages. Wiley 
was a man of one work. The duties of the Christian 
ministry engrossed his whole attention. His views of 
ministerial duty were large and comprehensive. To his 
mind it did not consist in preaching so many sermons, or 
in performing a given number of specific acts, but in 
doing all the good within his power, both to the souls 
and bodies of men. He felt that it 

" Was not a cause of small import 
The pastor's care demands ; 
But -what might fill an angel's heart, 
And filled a Savior's hands." 

Wiley had many opportunities of engaging in other 
pursuits more lucrative and less laborious than the work 
of an itinerant preacher. At one time the trustees of the 
Indiana State University tendered him the professorship 
of the Latin and Greek languages in that institution. 
But learning that it was the wish of his brethren in the 
conference that he should continue in the regular work 
of the ministry, he declined the chair that had been ten- 
dered him in the University, and was appointed to the 
Madison district. In 1840 his name was frequently men- 
tioned in connection with the office of Governor of Indi- 
ana, and at one time he feared that one of the political 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 105 

parties of the state would nominate him for that honor- 
able and responsible office ; not that he believed Chris- 
tianity incompatible with civil office or political life, but 
that he felt himself called to the work of the ministry, 
and believed that there were others who have no reluct- 
ance to enter the noisy arena of political strife, and who 
would be more competent to guide the affairs of state. 

Such was Wiley's devotion and his intense application to 
study that he did not spend that amount of time in social 
intercourse with his family that most men do. But the 
following letter, addressed to his family, just as he was 
recovering from a severe attack of illness, while presiding 
elder on Crawfordsville district, will show that he cher- 
ished for them the tenderest affection, and that he was 
careful of their feelings and deeply solicitous for their 
temporal and spiritual welfare : 

" Logansport, Sept. 22, 1838. 

" Once more, my very dear wife and children, I resume 
the pen to drop you a few lines, in great feebleness. 
After I wrote from Crawfordsville my health continued 
to ebb and flow for some time, but finally seemed to 
be pretty well restored, till Monday, the 3d of Sep- 
tember, when I was suddenly taken with a slight chill 
in the forenoon, which was succeeded with considerable 
fever in the afternoon. I rode, in the afternoon, nine 
miles toward this place, and at night took a heavy por- 
tion of pills, and used other means, which seemed to 
relieve me much ; but fearing the cause was not removed, 
I concluded to come next evening to this place, where I 
could have good medical advice and attendance. When 
I first arrived at the doctor's, with whom I have lodged, 
he supposed I was going to have the ague ; but in this he 
was mistaken, as my fever proved to be continual for a 
number of days. My sickness increased till it was almost 
intolerable. On yesterday two weeks I had six or eight 



106 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

hours' sickness at the stomach, which the whole of Swit- 
zerland county would not begin to tempt me to be willing 
to endure again for as many hours, if I could avoid it. 
I would have sent you word of my sickness, but the 
doctor thought my recovery middling sure, and I did not 
wish you to know of my sickness till after my recovery, 
so that you might not suffer useless uneasiness. On 
Monday I hope to leave this place for Lafayette. I was 
not afraid to die, but had some desire to live, that I 
might see the boys well harnessed in the work, and to 
see our younger children grown and in the Church, pos- 
sessing genuine religion, so that I may have a fair pros- 
pect of seeing them all in heaven. . . Brother Barnes, 
from Crawfordsville, was with me at the Covington camp 
meeting, and proposed to go in my place, and let me stay 
at Crawfordsville, if I found myself too weak for the dis- 
trict; but he went home on Monday, was taken sick at 
night, and in eighteen days was dead. I see, from the 
paper, that Michael S. Taylor is dead. So we go; and 
in the course of nature it can not be long till it is an- 
nounced that Allen Wiley is dead. May he be ready ! 
I would write you more, but I am too weak. 

"Allen Wiley." 

The following letter, directed to the care of E. Burn- 
sides, Esq., Clerk of the Circuit Court of Union county, 
Indiana, and addressed to an unfortunate murderer under 
sentence of death, shows how anxious he was to be useful 
to even the most degraded. It breathes the spirit of his 
Master and the true sympathy of humanity : 

"NisAB Laurel, June 13, 1845. 
" Dear Brother Burnsides, — Will you be kind enough 
to see that poor Cook receives the following communi- 
cation ? 

"Yours, respectfully, Allen Wiley. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 107 

" To Hose A Cook, — Your deep anguish and bitter 
lamentation, while I tried to pray for you, took hold of 
my sympathies and enlisted my heart in your future wel- 
fare, and I have often prayed for you since, and feel like 
continuing to do so while you live. Your earnest manner 
in asking us to return touches me much that I can not 
do so. Hence, I have felt it my duty to address you in 
this manner. Although I had some fears that you felt 
some disposition to excuse, in some measure, your great 
crimes, yet I thought you were more penitent than I 
ever expected you would be, which increased my faith 
that the good. Lord would yet save your soul. According 
to the holy Scriptures, your crimes are not of an unpar- 
donable kind. Manassah — whose history you will find in 
2 Kings xxi and 2 Chronicles xxiii — was an exceedingly 
wicked king, and committed many bloody crimes ; David 
committed adultery and murder ; and Saul of Tarsus ex- 
cited others to put the innocent Christians to death : and 
they all found forgiveness; but not till they repented 
sorely. You will find, in the chapters to which I referred 
you, how Manassah humbled himself and repented ; and 
in the fifty-first Psalm you will find how penitent David 
was for his sins ; and the ninth chapter of Acts will show 
you the dreadful agony which Saul endured. The first 
chapter of Timothy informs you that if he had not sinned 
in some degree of ignorance, he would not have been for- 
given. Our Lord prayed for his murderers, which shows 
they might be forgiven ; but he apologizes for them be- 
cause they had not a realizing sense of the enormity of 
their crime. ISTow, taking all these eases, we see that 
God will forgive all sins except blasphemy against the 
Holy Ghost, and that you have not committed. But, you 
see. they had to repent, confess, and forsake all their sins. 
When I say we have to confess, I mean, our sins which 
are only against God are to be confessed to him alone ; 



108 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

but where we have done an injury to our fellow-beings, 
we must confess to them, if we have an opportunity — and 
if we have not such opportunity, we should send our con- 
fession — and if we have injured them publicly, we must 
publicly remove the injury, if in our power. Perhaps I 
should be a little more explicit on what I mean by re- 
pentance. First, we must feel that we are depraved by 
nature, and that we have committed many sins; and we 
must feel this conviction so deep that we must be deeply, 
very deeply, grieved before God and man that we have 
been such vile sinners. We must weep, and mourn, and 
pray, and promise, and strive to break off from all our 
sins, and try to lead a holy life. 

"But all these things will not secure pardon to our 
guilty souls. We must believe according to the Bible. 
We are not only to believe that God made us and pre- 
serves all our lives, that he gave us his laws, and that he 
will judge us, but we are to believe that he so loved us 
as to give his only-begotten Son to die for us, when he 
bore our sins in his own body upon the cross'. Yes, 
Hosea, he bore your sins on the cross ; for when Christ 
suffered and died, he suffered and died for you as much 
as he did for Stephen, or Paul, or any other man, and 
nothing but impenitency and unbelief on your part can 
prevent you from obtaining mercy at the hand of God. 
You must believe, also, that the Holy Ghost can change 
your heart, which change is called, in the third chapter 
of John, ' being born again/ 

" Now, while I write, I feel, if you will fully repent 
and heartily believe, God will bless you before you die, 
which will be, I suppose, this day two weeks. O, Hosea, 
try to repent and believe just now ! Say, 

' And can I yet delay, 
My little all to give ; 
To tear my soul from earth away, 
For Jesus to receive"? 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 109 

Nay, but I yield, I yield ; 

I can hold out no more : 
I sink, by dying love compelled, 

And own thee Conqueror. 

Though late, I all forsake, 

My friends, my all resign; 
Gracious Eedeemer, take, take, 

And seal me ever thine.' 

" See Methodist Hymn-Book, page 68. Although you 
should read mostly in the Bible, yet there is one small 
tract which you should read, and that is, ' Mr. Fletcher's 
address to penitent seekers ' of salvation, where you will 
find almost all the promises of the Bible brought to- 
gether, and so arranged as to encourage your soul. If 
you can not get the tract, the same thing is found in his 
'Appeal.' Mr. Hays will assist you in procuring this 
important piece. In order that you may repent, always 
be thinking about your sins. In order that you may 
believe, be always thinking of God in Christ Jesus recon- 
ciling the world to himself. On the day of your execu- 
tion, I suppose, I shall be at Greensburg ; and if I could 
know at what hour you would be turned off, I would be 
on my knees praying the Lord to receive your soul. But 
this I can not know ; but I will try and pray for you on 
the forenoon of that day with special earnestness. I will 
also invite my friends to pray for you. You should try 
to be resigned to your fate ; for your heart is now tender, 
and if you were to live, your heart might grow hard 
again, and you might become more wicked than ever. If 
you should make a written confession, be sure you say 
nothing but what is strictly true. Remember, you must 
forgive every body, and have bitterness in your heart 
against no human being ; for our Lord teaches us to pray 
to be forgiven as we forgive others. Sleep and eat no 
more than nature really requires ; but devote all the time 
you have to reading, meditation, and prayer, and if God 

10 



110 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

blesses you with a clear evidence of pardon, rejoice in the 
Lord; but rejoice with trembling. If you can sing, try 
to sing penitential and encouraging hymns. 0, look up — 
look up, and believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be 
saved even now, and forever ! I must bring this letter to 
a close. 0, how glad I would be to see you, to encourage 
you, and pray for you ! but my other duties forbid. En- 
courage brother Hays to visit jou, and instruct and en- 
courage you in faith, and hope, and love. Think how 
short your time is, and make the best you can of it, that 
you may be found watching unto prayer. O, when I 
think of the powers of the soul, its endless duration, and 
its capabilities of pleasure and pain, I am astonished that 
we are not all more in earnest to be prepared for our final 
end ! Eternity, eternity ! that awful, incomprehensible 
thing ! Who can tell the length of eternity ? You will 
probably soon realize it. And shall it be to } r ou an eter- 
nity of woe ? It need not be, if you faithfully repent and 
Scripturally believe. Do not depend upon the old expe- 
rience which you related to us ; but look to God for one 
fresh from the throne of grace, sealed by the blood of 
Christ, and that will sustain you while you hang between 
the earth and heaven. 

"Farewell, Hosea, and long farewell, till I meet you 
at the judgment-seat of Christ. And 0, shall I see you 
among the redeemed? Sometimes the devil makes us 
believe we can obtain religion when we please and easily ; 
but at other times he makes us believe we can not obtain 
it at all. Try to steer between the extremes on either 
hand. 

" May the holy One have mercy upon your soul, and 
save you in the day of the Lord Jesus ! 

" Your well-wisher, Allen Wiley." 

As a preacher Wiley was always instructive. The 
matter of his sermons was uniformly good. His voice 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. Ill 

was heavy and monotonous; but to all who were suffi- 
ciently intelligent to comprehend his subject, and not too 
lazy to think, he was both entertaining and profitable. 
During the earlier part of his ministry, his style was 
elaborate and highly argumentative. But in later years, 
when the Church became established, and the doctrines 
of Methodism were almost universally believed through- 
out his fields of labor, his style of preaching assumed a 
more practical caste, embracing a wider range of topics, 
and was rich in evangelical Christian experience. When 
in a station, he found it necessary to change his style of 
preaching, as well as greatly to abridge the sermons 
which he had been accustomed to preach with so 
much effect upon quarterly and camp meeting occa- 
sions, when crowding hundreds were present, many of 
whom had come a great distance to attend upon his minis- 
try. At the conference in Evansville, in 1 847, a commit- 
tee, consisting of Allen Wiley, James Havens, and C. W. 
Ruter, was appointed to prepare a pastoral address to the 
Church within the bounds of the Indiana conference. At 
the request of the other members of the committee, 
Wiley wrote the address. By a vote of the conference 
the address was ordered to be published in the Western 
Christian Advocate, and the preachers were requested to 
read it to all their congregations. As this was the last 
conference that Wiley ever attended, and as the address 
is just as applicable to the Church now as when it was 
first written, I here insert it as Wiley's dying counsel and 
admonition to the Church : 
"To the Members of the Methodist Ejpiscopcd Church in the 

bounds of the Indiana conference : 

" Dearly-beloved and longed-for, our crown and our 
joy, permit us, your affectionate pastors, in conference 
assembled, to address you in this way on a few subjects 
of vast importance to you, and your children and friends. 



112 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

" The first thing to which we would invite your atten- 
tion is that of experimental religion, which consists in the 
pardon of sins and the regeneration of the soul by grace, 
in consequence of which we are brought into vital union 
with God, the father of our spirits. That there is a pos- 
sibility of being pardoned and regenerated without the 
direct witness of God's Spirit that we are in a gracious 
state, we will not deny ; but that this witness is usually 
concomitant with these great blessings we most firmly 
believe, and it should be looked for as the blessed privi- 
lege of all who are born of God. We are persuaded that 
this direct witness of the Spirit may be lost by a degree 
of unfaithfulness far short of entire backsliding, so that 
the soul may be deprived of much comfort without wick- 
edly departing from the Lord ; and permit us, dear breth- 
ren, to express a fear that many of our people — perhaps 
the larger part of them — live a great portion of their time 
in this state of comparative darkness and uncertainty, and 
in a state of discomfort, in consequence of this uncer- 
tainty about their spiritual condition. We would exhort 
you, brethren, to see to this matter, and look to your- 
selves, that you have the daily witness of the Spirit that 
you are the children of God, and that you enjoy the 
consolation arising from this witness. We are fully per- 
suaded that you can not long retain your religious enjoy- 
ment unless you aim at such a degree of grace as will 
result in your entire sanctification ; for when Christ died 
for us, it was to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify 
us unto himself, a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 
We would most earnestly urge you to read and study 
much on the doctrine of holiness or entire sanctification. 
After having ourselves read most that has been written 
on this subject, we would take the liberty to recommend 
the writings of Mr. Wesley and Mr. Fletcher on this sub- 
ject in preference to all others, as they state, and defend, 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 113 

and enforce the doctrine with a clearness and energy un- 
equaled by any writers before or since their day. Of 
course the inspired writers are excepted in the last asser- 
tion. In reading and studying on the doctrine named, 
we would advise you to do so not as merely theorizers 
and speculators in theology, but to do the things recom- 
mended with direct reference to personal purity of heart. 
"In the next place, we would call your attention to the 
importance of practical religion ; but in doing so, we can 
only notice a few prominent points. We regard family 
religion of vast importance to you and your posterity. 
The sorrowful and weeping Jeremiah says, 'Pour out 
thy wrath upon the heathen, and upon the families which 
have not called upon thy name.' Surely this prayer was 
not the result of petulance, but the sober conviction of 
his mind and heart, that prayerless families deserve the 
sore displeasure of almighty God. In most of the fami- 
lies of our people, where morning and evening devotion 
is attended to, it usually consists of reading a portion 
of the holy Scriptures and prayer. The old men among 
us can remember when singing was as uniformly a part 
of family worship as reading the Scriptures, or even 
prayer itself; and, although we regard the saying of Sol- 
omon, 'Say not the former days were better than these,' 
of general application, yet there are exceptions, and we 
consider this as one of them ; for we are persuaded our 
people in general were more deeply devotional when they 
used to sing in their families than they are now. Another 
great good would grow out of the singing in the family ; 
for then almost all would sing in the congregation, which 
we know is not the case now as it was once. Some of 
us can remember, before and after we became religious, 
that most Methodist congregations literally carried out 
Mr. Wesley's exhortation to sing lustily, so that many 
times their singing was as the sound of many waters. 
10* 



114 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Another admirable feature of their singing was, that they 
confined themselves almost entirely to the admirable com- 
positions contained in our standard Hymn-Book. So 
much were they given to singing, and to singing our 
hymns, that many of them could sing almost any hymn 
in the book, without reading it or having it lined. We 
would most earnestly advise you to return to the primi- 
tive Methodist usage of reading, singing, and prayer in 
your morning and evening family worship. The practice 
of instructing and catechising their children, we fear, is 
too much neglected by our people. We fear the excel- 
lent institution of Sunday schools has, to some extent, 
superseded family instruction, by inducing you to think 
Sunday school instruction amply sufficient to train your 
children in the way they should go. Brethren, no Sun- 
day school teaching can be a substitute for parental in- 
struction ; for God has made the parents the natural and 
rightful instructors of their children, and you should 
regard Sunday schools as valuable appendages to family 
instruction, but not as superseding it. We would most 
earnestly urge you, to furnish your children with our 
catechisms, and other books of instruction on religious 
subjects. 

"We, as a body of Methodist preachers, have mutu- 
ally pledged ourselves to each other, by a unanimous 
rising vote, to be more faithful in pastoral visits, and in 
the exercise of the discipline of the Church in general, 
and in reference to the willful neglecters of class meet- 
ings in particular. To us it will be a most painful work 
to be under the necessity of dismembering any of you 
for the neglect of so useful a means of grace as our class 
meetings are calculated to be to the faithful soul. We 
fear many of you regard class meetings as a mere matter 
of form, to which you are urged to attend for mere form's 
sake, and that, as it is a mere formal thing, you can see 



EEY. ALLEN WILEY. 115 

no reason why we are so urgent on this subject. But in 
this you are mistaken ; for our observation and experience 
have convinced us that it is a blessed means of grace, 
without which our Church can never flourish. Many 
join our Church as seekers of salvation who, if not 
attentive to this means of grace, soon lose their desires, 
and are in danger of living unconverted all their days ; 
but if they attend the meetings named, they have the 
subject of religion so often and earnestly pressed upon 
them, that they are likely never to rest till converted to 
God; and he must be but a poor judge of fallen human 
nature, and have but a poor knowledge of Satan's devices, 
who thinks he can retain his piety with any less available 
means than were used by him in his attainment of so 
great a blessing. We therefore hope you will nofc regard 
attendance on class meeting as an unpleasant task, but 
as a great and gracious privilege, and that we shall not 
be under the necessity of dismembering any of you for 
willful neglect. 

" Brethren, after careful observation, we fear there is 
an inferior but mischievous kind or degree of Sabbath- 
breaking among you, consisting of family and social visit- 
ing, which is greatly injurious to your souls. We hope 
you will consider this subject, and refrain from such visit- 
ing on the holy day. We say nothing to you about the 
gross violations of that day by doing ordinary work 
therein, or by buying or selling; for in such cases we 
should feel bound to bring you to trial for gross immoral- 
ity, and expel you from the Church, according to the 
provisions of the Discipline. 

" Having urged on you the importance and necessity 
of experimental and practical religion, we would urge on 
you, as a means of promoting these, the necessity of 
your becoming a reading and an intelligent people. Let 
others say that 'ignorance is the mother of devotion,' but 



116 LIFE A]S"D TIMES OF 

never let a follower of the learned Wesleys say or think 
such a thing. But, -while we urge you to become a read- 
ing people, in these days of book-making, we would most 
affectionately warn you not to read indiscriminately all 
that is poured forth from the press ; but rather let your 
reading be select, and such as is really calculated to im- 
prove the mind and heart ; and we would say to you that 
our Book Concerns at New York and Cincinnati will fur- 
nish you with ample stores of varied reading suited to 
the purposes named. 

"We think we have seen a departure, in some meas- 
ure, in some of our congregations, from primitive Meth- 
odist usage, which we greatly deplore. We mean the 
practice of sitting, while we sing and pray in the public 
congregation. We think it Scriptural and rational that 
that sublime part of Divine worship which consists in 
singing should be performed, by all persons in health, in 
a standing position ; and surely all persons should kneel 
in the house of God, while humble confessions are made 
and devout prayers are being offered to almighty God. 
0, friends, be sure you stand up and bless the name of 
God, and kneel down while you pray ! 

"We have not language to express our thankfulness 
while we witness the rapid increase in the liberality of 
our people in sustaining the benevolent institutions of the 
Church, which are intended to ameliorate the condition 
of suffering humanity. Your missionary collections are 
on the increase; but we fear they are sustained by the 
few, and not by the many, as is the case with our breth- 
ren of the Wesleyan connection, which, with about half 
our membership and with less wealth than we have, 
more than double us in their missionary contributions. 
We would be glad if every member among our thousands 
would resolve to do something., however small, for the 
benevolent institutions of the day in which we live. 



EEY. ALLEN WILEY. 117 

"We would congratulate you, brethren, that the sup- 
port of your ministers has been better the present than in 
any former year, and the fifth collection has also been 
better than at any former time ; so that the worn-out 
men, widows and orphans, and the men on the frontiers 
have a prospect of being better supported than formerly ; 
but there will still be a large deficiency in meeting their 
claims. "We would exhort you, dear brethren, to abound 
more and more in your fifth collection, especially as the 
question is now being agitated whether it will not be 
expedient so to reduce the price of the books by us as to 
do away with any dividends from the Book Concern. 

" We have been much pained to witness a decrease in 
our numbers for several years past, and we have been led 
to inquire for the cause ; and we fear preachers and people 
have been too languid in their prayers and less ardent in 
their zeal than they should be. We should aim at noth- 
ing less than the conversion of the whole world, and for 
this we should pray day and night, and frequently join 
fasting with our prayers. 

"In conclusion, we would say, abound in every good 
work, and live in the fear of God all your days. Breth- 
ren, take the meek and lowly Jesus and his primitive fol- 
lowers as your models in spirit and behavior, and God 
will bless and prosper you in every good thing. We 
would commend ourselves to your affections and prayers, 
and beseech you to sustain and encourage us while we 
labor for your good and the conversion of the world. 
May Heaven bless you ! 

"Allen Wiley." 

Immediately upon the adjournment of the conference 
at Evansville, Wiley removed his family to Yevay, where 
he designed to settle them permanently, and await the 
indications of Providence as to the path of duty on his 
part. He felt that duty required him to provide, as far 



118 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

as he could, for the comfort of his afflicted companion, 
who had so long borne with him the privations incident 
to an itinerant life ; and, although afflicted by the neces- 
sity which compelled him to take a superannuated rela- 
tion to the conference, while, so far as he was concerned, 
he was as able to do effective service as any of his breth- 
ren, yet he did not become soured at the Church or the 
world. He knew that no earthly association ever pre- 
sented a constantly-bright page in the individual history 
of its membership. And in a system formed with an 
especial view to its efficiency, even at the sacrifice of the 
wishes and preferences of its individual members, like 
that of Methodist itinerancy, there must of necessity be 
more or less friction. Wiley was not the man to com- 
plain of a due proportion of its burdens. He, doubtless, 
felt as others have and will feel again, that long and 
faithful services have some claim to gratitude. The 
strongest evidence of the efficiency and healthy condition 
of any is the manifest and reciprocal attachment of pas- 
tors and people. A people truly devout do not depend 
upon the preacher to make them happy. They do not 
crave a fund of crying anecdotes to enlist their attention 
and stir up their sympathies. They feed on nobler and 
purer food. They are more anxious to know that he who 
ministers to them in spiritual things is himself spiritual, 
than to know that he is a man of popular address and 
fascinating manners. 

In the rapid and brilliant career of Methodism, there 
are and have been many things to admire ; but as there 
are spots upon the sun, so there may be occasional defects 
in the working of the Methodist economy. But toward 
those men who have toiled in the itinerant field for more 
than a third of a century, who preached the Gospel of a 
free salvation to our fathers in their cabin homes, and 
whose lessons of wisdom and devout supplications are 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 119 

among the earliest recollections of our childhood, the 
whole Church should exhibit a love and a veneration 
second only to that which they feel for the Savior. 
They should be venerated for their virtues, and every- 
where and always "accounted worthy of double honor" 
for their work's sake. They are identified with the dark- 
est struggles and the brightest glory of our beloved 
Methodism. The Church should reflect how often and 
how far they have moved — for how many years they 
have pursued their work from appointment to appoint- 
ment, through heat and through cold. Frequently their 
wives and children have been located in some cabin in 
the country, or, it may be, in some hired house in the 
edge of the village. Having nothing, they have made 
many rich. But what shall become of them in their old 
age ? Must they look to the grave as their only resting- 
place, and heaven as their only place of reward? Let it 
not be inferred from these remarks that Wiley had out- 
lived the affections of the people. Far from it. Perhaps 
he never had a stronger hold upon the affections of the 
great Methodist public than at the time of his death. 
But, owing to affliction, his family could not be removed, 
as in former years ; and it was perhaps owing to a com- 
bination of peculiar circumstances that the people of his 
charge desired a new preacher. In view of these facts 
Wiley felt it to be his duty to retire for the present, make 
his afflicted family as comfortable as he could, and serve 
the Church as he had opportunity, till such time as he 
could take his appropriate place among his brethren. 
But a mysterious providence closed his relation to the 
Church militant, and introduced him to the higher duties 
and purer associations of the Church triumphant. 

During the period that elapsed between the session of 
the conference and the time of his death, Wiley was 
neither idle nor unhappy. He labored diligently during 



120 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the week, and on the Sabbath usually filled from one to 
three appointments. He also prepared for the press, in 
their present form, his Letters to Ministers, which con- 
stitute the second part of this volume. He frequently 
remarked that his religious employments were never 
greater, and his friends bear testimony to his cheerful 
and contented frame of mind. Having been unaccus- 
tomed to manual labor for a number of years, he could 
not endure as much as he himself imagined, and, while 
engaged in leveling a gravel floor in a new barn or stable, 
which had just been erected, he experienced what, for 
the moment, appeared to be a simple stitch in the side ; 
but he was soon conscious that he had produced a serious 
internal rupture. He walked to the house, and informed 
his family of the injury he had received, and of his fears 
of the issue. He survived but four days. On Sabbath, 
July 23, 1848, in the fifty-ninth year of his age and the 
thirty-first of his itinerant ministry, he exchanged earth 
for heaven, suffering for rest, and labor for reward. 
During his affliction his mind was clear, his confidence 
in God unshaken, and his hopes for heaven bright. Xo 
clouds of doubt or darkness hung around the horizon 
of his mind. With a confidence as implicit as confiding 
infancy, he reposed on the bosom of his Savior, and 
felt that he did not trust in vain. His body reposes in 
the graveyard near his old family residence, in Switzer- 
land county, a short distance back of the town of Vevay. 
His brethren in the ministry contributed a sum sufficient 
to provide suitable tombstones for his grave. By the 
contributions of a number of his old friends within the 
bounds of the Lawrenceburg district, a neat iron fence 
has been erected around his grave. For more than a 
third of a century Wiley had labored for the moral im- 
provement of society in Indiana. He had given the 
entire weight of his influence to every measure of public 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 121 

utility. He was a leader in all the benevolent enterprises 
and moral reforms of the day. The missionary, Sunday 
school, Bible society, and tract cause, each had his cor- 
dial support. He was an advocate of temperance, on the 
total-abstinence principle, from the commencement of his 
ministry, and to the cause of education he was a warm 
and consistent friend. For a number of years he was a 
trustee of the State University, at Bloomington, and was 
one of the early projectors and fast friends of the Indiana 
Asbury University, serving for several years as a member 
of the Board of Trustees, and contributing of his means 
toward its permanent endowment. But it was as a wise, 
zealous, and indefatigable minister of the Gospel that he 
had most effectually served his generation. As an able 
divine Wiley had but few superiors. The death of such 
a man is a public calamity. It created a vacuum not 
easily filled. 

" 0, who can speak Lis praise? Great, humble man ! 
He in the current of destruction stood, 
And warned the sinner of his woe — led on 
Immanuel's armies in the evil day — 
And with the Everlasting arms embraced 
Himself around — stood in the dreadful front 
Of battle high, and warred victoriously 
With death and hell. And now has come his rest — 
His triumph day." 

And 0, how appropriate the day for that triumph ! It 
was the holy Sabbath — the day on which he had so often 
done battle for the Lord — the day on which, for more 
than a third of a century, he had been wont to gird on 
the Gospel armor with peculiar care, and wield " the 
Spirit's two-edged sword" with redoubled force. It was 
the day on which he had been wont to appear among the 
people as God's embassador — the day when he had been 
accustomed to mingle, with peculiar pleasure, in the de- 
votions of the sanctuary. But on this memorable day, 
11 



122 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

instead of going forth to battle, as in other days, he lays 
his armor by, and the Christian warrior returns .that 
trusty sword which he had wielded with so much skill 
and force for more than a third of a century. On that 
day — memorable Sabbath ! — Wiley appears in the con- 
gregation of the Lord ; but it is among the worshipers in 
that temple not mads with hands. Faith had furnished 
him enrapturing views of the heavenly city; but now "he 
sees the Lamb in his own light." The war is over ; the 
victory is gained. He surrenders his commission, and is 
welcomed home. The crown is obtained, and the king- 
dom won. He has met his old companions in arms. And 
0, what a meeting ! They had frequently met in God's 
earthly temples, on the tented field, and had stood up 
side by side and shouted for the battle. But now they 
shout the victory complete. Beauchamp, Strange, Arm- 
strong, Locke, and Wiley, with their compatriots — a noble 
band — are there. Could their voices come back, to earth, 
would they not say to each minister of Christ, 

"Gird on thy armor, soldier of the cross! 
Why pause to count thy earthly gain or loss? 
Is there no meed hut laurels red and gory, 
To lure thee on to conquest and to glory ? 
Is't not enough to feed ambition's flame, 
A -world to win — a h~^t worid to reclaim ? 
Press on! the lights of heaven before thee shine — 
Press on ! a -wreath unfading shall he thine t" 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 123 



CHAPTER XIII. 

Review of Methodism, in Indiana down to 1850 — Its numbers, literary 
institutions, etc. — Communication of Bishop Ames — Causes of the suc- 
cess of Methodism — Difficulties in the way of its progress — Its present 
position. 

When Wiley entered the itinerant ministry in 1817, 
there were but few circuits organized in Indiana. Law- 
renceburg and a part of White Water circuit were in Indi- 
ana, although both were included with the Ohio confer- 
ence. Silver Creek, Blue River, Patoka, and Yincennes, 
in the south and south-western part of the state, were in- 
cluded in the Missouri conference. The membership in 
the above circuits, according to the Minutes of 1817, was 
as follows : Lawrenceburg, 293 ; White Water, 490 ; 
Silver Creek, 500; Blue River, 260; Patoka, 140; Yin- 
cennes, 216: making a total of 1,899. There may have 
been a few societies in Indiana not embraced in this enu- 
meration; but the aggregate membership in the state 
would not vary much from the figures here given. Meth- 
odism was introduced into the White Water countiy and 
the eastern part of the state from Ohio, and into the south- 
ern part of the state from Kentucky. The first entire pas- 
toral charge formed in Indiana was Silver Creek circuit, 
in Clarke's Grant, opposite the Falls of the Ohio. It 
appears on the Minutes for the first time in 1807, and 
Moses Ashworth was the preacher. Preaching-places 
had been established, and a number of classes formed at 
several points in what is now Clarke county, some years 
previous; but they were included in Salt River circuit. 
Benjamin Lakin and Samuel Parker paid a transient visit 



124 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

to the Grant as early as 1801. A local preacher from 
Kentucky, by the name of John Bates, is said to have 
organized the first societies in Clarke's Grant. The first 
society was formed on the east side of Fourteen Mile 
creek in what was formerly known as Gassaway's settle- 
ment; but is now known as the neighborhood of Salem 
meeting-house. The second society was formed in Rob- 
ertson's settlement, where the first Methodist meeting- 
house in Indiana was built, in 1807, and the second 
meeting-house built in that part of the state was in 
Gassaway's settlement, the present site of Salem meet- 
ing-house. The third society was formed a short dis- 
tance back of the present town of Utica, in what was 
called Jacob's settlement. The fourth society was formed 
in the town of Jefferson ville. These four societies were 
all that were on the north side of the Ohio river, and 
constituted a part of Salt River circuit, Kentucky confer- 
ence, till 1807. The preachers crossed the Ohio river in 
the vicinity of the Falls, to attend their appointments on 
the Indiana side. Rev. William Burke, who was then 
presiding elder on the Kentucky district, held in Clarke's 
Grant the first camp meeting that was ever held in Indi- 
ana, which was in the fall of 1806 or 1807. 

Benjamin Lakin and Ralph Lotspeich were the first to 
establish regular preaching in Clarke's Grant. This they 
did while traveling Salt circuit in 1803. Consequently, 
we may date the commencement of regular itinerant 
preaching, in this part of Indiana, from 1803, which was 
two or three years prior to the regular introduction of the 
Gospel into the settlements on the eastern border of the 
state. William M'Kendree preached occasionally in 
Clark's Grant in 1803. The first society formed in 
Harrison county was organized by Moses Ashworth in 
1807 or 1808, and consisted of Dennis Pennington and 
wife, and George Critchfield and wife. Pennington and 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 125 

Critchfield are yet living, and are noble specimens of 
western character. Critchfield was one of the company 
that went to meet Bishop Asbury, and conducted him to 
the third Kentucky conference, in 1793, which was held 
five miles north-west of Lexington, at Richard Master- 
don's. It was deemed necessary to furnish the Bishop 
with an escort through the wilderness between the set- 
tled parts of Kentucky and Tennessee ; and, accordingly, 
Critchfield and others met the Bishop at Bean's station, 
in Tennessee, and piloted him to the seat of the con- 
ference. 

The first revival in Harrison county was in 1810, under 
the labors of Celah Paine, who, that year, was traveling 
Silver Creek circuit, and occasionally went down into 
Harrison county. 

Having furnished a brief view of the first introduction 
and early progress of Methodism in Indiana, and its 
position in the state at the time that Wiley entered the 
ministry, we shall now present the reader with as correct 
a view as we are able of the condition of Methodism as it 
was in Indiana at the time of Wiley's death. The fol- 
lowing exhibit is taken from the Indiana Gazetteer for 
1849, page 69: 

" The Methodist Episcopal Church is the most numer- 
ous religious denomination in the state, and there are but 
few parts of it in which their traveling or local preachers 
do not, with more or less frequency, preach the Gospel. 
The Indiana conference embraces that part of the state 
lying south of the National Road, but including the cen- 
tral and western charges at Indianapolis, and has 115 
traveling and 290 local preachers, 400 meeting-houses, 
33,262 Church members, 319 Sabbath schools, 3,030 
officers and teachers, and 14,901 scholars. The North 
Indiana conference, embracing the remainder of the state, 
has 108 traveling and 258 local preachers, 26,302 Church 
11* 



126 



LIFE AND TIMES OF 



members, 293 Sabbath schools, 2,260 officers and teach- 
ers, and 12,744 scholars. The whole number of Church 
members is now over 60,000." 

The Indiana conference was organized in 1832, being 
set off from the Illinois conference, by the General con- 
ference of that year. Its sessions have been as follows : 

New Albany Oct. 17, 1832 

Madison Oct. 16, 1833 

Centerville Oct. 22, 1834 

Lafayette Oct. 14, 1835 

Indianapolis Oct, 26, 1836 

New Albany Oct. 25, 1837 

Eockville Oct. 17, 1838 

Lawrenceburg Oct. 23, 1839 

Indianapolis Oct. 21, 1840 

Terre Haute Oct. 6, 1841 



Centerville Oct. 19, 1842 

Crawfordsville. ...Oct. 18, 1843 

Bloomington Oct. 25, 1844 

Madison Oct, 8,1845 

Connersville Oct. 7,1846 

Evansville Oct. 6,1847 

New Albany Oct. 4,1848 

Rising Sun Oct. 10, 1849 

Jeffersonville Oct. 9, 1850 

Indianapolis Oct. 8, 1851 

The following table presents the number of members, 

traveling preachers, and local preachers, each year, since 

the organization of the conference, down to 1851 : 



Year. 


Members. 


Traveling preachers. 


Local. 


1832 


20,035.... 


65 





1833 


23,617 


71 





1834 


25,213.... 


73 


. . . 


1835 


25,476.... 


92 





1836 


28,000 


99 


333 


1837 


31,058 


120 


351 


1838 


35,258 


139 


366 


1839 


43,953.... 


161 


412 


1840" 


53,033.... 


167 


418 


1841 


53,381 

62,942 


177 


459 


1842 


192 


473 


1843 


67,219 

35,686 


216 


488 


1844 


110 


285 


1845 


33,673 


112 

119 


.. ..305 


1846 


32,530 


309 


1847 


30,745 

33,262 


122 


309 


1848 


121 


290 


1849 


35.481 


137 

148 


290 


1850 


37,798 


290 


1851 


39,271 


159 


302 



It will be observed that in 1844 the conference was 
divided into Indiana and North Indiana conferences. At 
the General conference of 1852 the state of Indiana was 
divided into four annual conferences. The following 
numbers relate to the "North Indiana conference, previous 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 127 

to the action of this General conference, and, being taken 
from the published Minutes, are in every sense reliable : 

Year. Members. Traveling preachers. Local. 

1844 27,343 105 220 

1845 27,383 110 222 

1846 27,336 114 267 

1847 26,302 120 258 

1848 27,337 120 282 

1849 28,083 134 269 

1850 30,397 149 279 

1851 32,234 170 288 

From an inspection of these tables, it will appear that 
the growth of the Church was constant from 1832 to 
1843. From 1838 to 1848 its increase was almost un- 
paralleled, being in five years more than 32,000. From 
1843 to 1847 there was a decrease, amounting in the four 
years in both conferences to about 10,000. This was, 
doubtless, principally the natural result of the astonishing 
ingathering of the few previous years. From 1847 to 
1851 the increase has been regular and constant, amount- 
ing in the Indiana conference to 8,526 members, and in 
the North Indiana conference to 5,932 members. The 
membership in the state in 1851 was 71,505, traveling 
preachers 327, and local preachers 590, giving a total, 
as presented in the Minutes for that year, of 72,322. 

My object in bringing down these statistics to the close 
of 1850 — for the Minutes of 1851 exhibit the state of the 
Church the year preceding — is to present the numerical 
condition of the Church at the close of the first half of 
the present century, but chiefly to show that the decrease 
which took place from 1843 to 1847 was not the result 
of any defect in the economy of Methodism, or because 
the system had fallen into decay, or that the Church had 
come under any permanent law of decline, but that it 
was altogether incidental and temporary. 

Through the Divine blessing, Methodism has been con- 
stantly on the increase in Indiana in all that is essential 
to its true prosperity, ever since its introduction to the 



128 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

southern part of the state, under the labors of such men 
as Lakin, Lotspeich, Burke, M'Kendree, and Ashworth, 
and, in the eastern part of the state, by such men as 
Bigelow, Crume, Strange, and Wiley. From 1843 to 
1847, while the Church was decreasing in numbers, it 
was increasing the amount of its annual contributions to 
the various enterprises under its care. A greater amount 
of attention was bestowed upon Sabbath schools and 
upon the cause of education in general. A large num- 
ber of churches and parsonages were built in different 
parts of the state, and the annual contributions of the 
Church to the cause of missions were greatly increased. 
When Wiley entered the ministry there were but few 
meeting-houses of any kind in Indiana, most of the 
preaching being done either in the grove, the private 
house, or the fort. But in 1850 the Indiana conference 
alone, which included the southern half of the state, con- 
tained 437 church edifices and 61 parsonages, valued at 
$299,350. Allowing the same amount to the North In- 
diana conference, the Methodists in Indiana had invested, 
in churches and parsonages alone, the sum of $598,700. 
The Methodists in Indiana have taken the lead in the 
cause of general education. In 1835 the Indiana confer- 
ence projected the founding of the Indiana Asbury Uni- 
versity. In 1837 an act of incorporation was obtained- 
from the Legislature of the state, and the same year a 
preparatory school was opened. In 1 850 the University 
had a permanent endowment fund of over one hundred 
thousand dollars. In addition to this, they had estab- 
lished the Fort Wayne Female College, at Fort Wayne, 
and the Indiana Asbury Female College, at New Albany. 
Both of these institutions are of a high grade, established 
on a permanent basis, possessing costly and commodious 
buildings ; and under the supervision of able instructors; 
they present every necessary facility for the attainment 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 129 

of a thorough education. The Church had also, under 
its patronage and control, the White Water Male and 
Female College and Academy, at Centerville, and was 
projecting the establishment of a Central Female College 
at Indianapolis. These institutions are now in a highly- 
prosperous condition. And, besides these, there are a 
number of Methodist schools in the state that have been 
projected and sustained by private enterprise. This prop- 
erty has been secured and these institutions have been 
built up without any foreign aid, scarcely a dollar having 
been contributed to any of them beyond the limits of 
Indiana. 

This is emphatically a working age, and it is pleasing 
to contemplate the rapid progress of society, especially 
in this western portion of the world. In the language 
of Bishop Ames, in a communication to the author, " The 
last fifty years have witnessed greater and more beneficial 
changes throughout the world than any equal period of 
time since the commencement of the Christian era. And 
in no part of Christendom has the progress in wisdom 
and knowledge been greater than in the United States, 
and in no part of the Union so great as in the west. We 
are forced to admit that 'fact is stranger than fiction,' 
when we contrast the present condition of things here 
with what it was fifty years ago. The forest has given 
place to the farm, the hunting-grounds of the Indian to 
the gardens, orchards, grain-fields, and pastures of the 
husbandman. The bark wigwam and rude cabin are 
replaced by the ample farm-house and the stately man- 
sion; and crowded cities, filled with the busy hum of 
active life, have sprung forth, as by enchantment, from 
the wilderness. Where the death-song and the war- 
whoop of the wild savage then waked the echoes of the 
old woods, now the sound of lofty anthems and fervent 
prayers goes up from sacred temples dedicated to the 



130 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

worship of the Lord of hosts. These changes and the 
agencies that have produced them are themes for the his- 
torian, the annalist, and the biographer. A large and 
valuable amount of material for the civil and ecclesias- 
tical history of the west is already irrevocably lost. It 
perished with the actors. Men of action make history; 
men of leisure write it. Ccesar acted and recorded his 
actions ; but this is seldom done. Some pains have been 
taken, by several persons, to perpetuate the memory of 
those who distinguished themselves in border warfare 
with Indian tribes. But up to the present time, little 
or no effort has been made to rescue from oblivion the 
memory of those moral heroes, who, as spiritual leaders 
of the forlorn hope, under the command of the ' great 
Captain of our salvation,' guided the Church to battle 
and to victory. Though comparatively unknown and un- 
honored on earth, their 'record is on high.' But they 
ought not to remain unknown and unhonored among 
men. It is a work both of piety and patriotism to em- 
balm their virtues in history, and thus hand over their 
example for the respect and imitation of posterity." 

Methodism in Indiana is indebted for much of its suc- 
cess to the daring enterprise, the indefatigable zeal, and 
self-sacrificing devotion of its early ministry. We have 
faith in the economy of Methodism. Her system of free 
seats and her method of extempore preaching were ad- 
mirably adapted to the state of society and the tastes 
of the people. Her camp, quarterly, and protracted 
meetings were well calculated to arrest public attention, 
and her system of itinerancy to reach the sparsest set- 
tlements. But these only constituted a rule to work by, 
and the best system is of no avail unless carried into 
execution. But our fathers did the 2corl\ They carried 
into practical operation the entire machinery of agencies 
and means at their disposal. They did not wait for the 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 131 

erection of a church, and a call from the people ; they 
went out in search of ''the lost sheep of the house of 
Israel;" and as they went they cried, "Behold the Lamb 
of God which taketh away the sin of the world!" Their 
message was from God, and they delivered it as such, 
whether the people would hear or whether they would 
forbear. We have faith in the truth and purity of the 
Methodist doctrines; but the "sword of the Spirit" will 
do no execution unless wielded by skill and force. Our 
fathers brought the doctrines of the Gospel home to the 
understandings and consciences of their hearers with a 
directness and a force which said to each, "Thou art the 
man!' 1 They were workmen, and not idlers. The Master 
had sent them to labor in his vineyard, and they obeyed 
his instructions. 

The peculiar doctrines of Methodism were violently 
assailed, for a number of years, from different quarters. 
In the eastern part of the state the Newlights opposed 
the doctrine of the Deity of Jesus Christ, and of the 
innate depravity of human nature. Some of Wiley's 
ablest sermons were delivered in the White Water coun- 
try upon these subjects, and they left a lasting impression 
on the public mind. Rev. John P. Durbin, although then 
quite a young man, delivered sermons to the early settlers 
in eastern Indiana in defense of the divinity of Jesus 
Christ, which are yet remembered and spoken of as mas- 
terly efforts. A few years sufficed to vanquish Arianism, 
and that pernicious heresy has been long since numbered, 
in this country, among the things that were. 

Calvinism fought a harder battle. Its advocates were 
intelligent and educated men. Many of them had come 
from sections of the country where theirs was the domi- 
nant sect and the prevailing creed. They looked upon 
Arminianism as heresy, and many of them regarded the 
"circuit riders," as they were wont to term the early 



132 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Methodist preachers, as mere pretenders in theology. In 
their estimation, the mission of Methodism was exclu- 
sively to the ignorant and the poor ; vrhile to them be- 
longed the guidance of the cultivated intellect of the 
state, the management of educational interests, and the 
control of the literary funds of the state. But the Meth- 
odist preachers were abroad upon their Heaven-appointed 
mission, proclaiming, in trumpet tones, the leading doc- 
trines of the Gospel, urging repentance and faith as du- 
ties of present obligation. They represented all as con- 
cluded under sin, and proclaimed that God had mercy for 
all who would accept it. Thus, while they taught the total 
depravity of man's nature, and his utter inability to save 
himself, they taught that the offering of Christ once made, 
was a "perfect redemption, propitiation, and satisfaction 
for the sins of the whole world, both original and actual," 
so that a possible salvation was purchased for every child 
of man. 

Man's free agency, and his gracious ability to repent 
and be converted, were strongly insisted upon in nearly 
every sermon. These doctrines commended themselves 
to the understanding and consciences of the educated and 
the illiterate. Methodist doctrines did not have to be 
instilled into the minds of the people by the slow process 
of education ; but they commended themselves to the 
common mind, and were readily linked on to their ordi- 
nary modes of reasoning and thinking; and hence the ex- 
traordinary success which has attended them whenever 
and wherever faithfully preached. And while extensive 
contributions have been received from abroad, to aid in 
planting and sustaining Calvinistic Churches in Indiana. 
Methodism has relied upon its own resources : and with- 
out foreign patronage, and without any legacy from a pre- 
vious generation, it has secured property, position, and 
numbers far in advance of anv other denomination 1 . Al- 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 133 

though she has taken her ministry from the different avo- 
cations of life — a Peter from his fishing, a Matthew from 
the receipt of customs, a Luke from the practice of medi- 
cine, and a Saul from the feet of Gamaliel — without re- 
quiring a collegiate education as a prerequisite to an en- 
trance in the ministry, yet they have, in general, been 
men of respectable learning, and, as a class, distinguished 
for their practical sense ; and there are at present more 
men of liberal education in the Methodist ministry, in In- 
diana, than in the ministry of any other denomination in 
the state. 

Calvinism still has its adherents, but they no longer 
assail Arminian doctrines nor Methodist economy: these 
are generally believed and approved, and are strongly 
intrenched in the affections of the great mass of the peo- 
ple. The greatest difficulties in the way of the progress 
of Methodism in Indiana, arose from the heterogeneous 
nature of the society. The population was made up of 
emigrants from many of the older states of the Union, 
and from the different countries of Europe, all bringing 
with them their preconceived opinions and prejudices ; and 
when we add to this the newness of the country, the 
wonder is, that Methodism has succeeded so well, both in 
her educational plans and her numerical progress. 

If we infer her future from the past, a bright career 
awaits the Church in Indiana. Her University and her 
male and female seminaries, are already educating many 
hundreds of the youth of the state. 

She has in her Sabbath schools upward of forty thou- 
sand children and youth; and in her communion, upward 
of seventy thousand Church members. "The little one 
has become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation." 
"May the Lord God of our fathers make them a thou- 
sand times so many as they are, and bless them as he 
hath promised!" Already the Church includes within 

12 



134 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

her pale much, of both the intellect and the wealth of the 
state. Her social position is a commanding one. The 
progress of society will modify, to some extent, her modes 
of operation, but should never be suffered to affect any 
organic feature of an economy that has worked out such 
grand results. Larger and wealthier societies, and a 
denser population, have already broken up the extensive 
circuits of a former day, and the same demand an in- 
creased amount of pastoral labor. The increasing intelli- 
gence of the people, and the numerous enterprises that 
are now being carried forward under the patronage of the 
Church, widen the range of pulpit discussion ; presenting 
new themes for the ministry, and demanding a larger 
amount of intelligence on their part. 

But the leading traits of Methodist preaching should 
never be given up. Preaching should never be exchanged 
for pulpit reading. The free colloquial style of extempore 
preaching certainly has the sanction of the Great Teacher, 
is sustained by apostolic example, and has been adopted 
by the most distinguished and effective public speakers, 
both in the pulpit and at the bar. The importance which 
our fathers have been wont to attach to the saving ele- 
mentary truths of the Gospel, should never be lessened. 
The leading doctrines of the Gospel should have a place 
in every sermon. There should be the same aim at im- 
mediate results which has so signally marked the labors 
of our fathers in the ministry. A faithfully-preached 
Gospel will be ''the power of God unto salvation," till 
the world is converted. The thousands of our Israel 
should be trained as workers together in the great moral 
vineyard. The gold and the silver which God has placed 
at our command, should be employed for the extension of 
his kingdom. 

The standard of Christian experience and the duty of 
Christian effort should never be diminished. We should 



BEV. ALLEN WILEY. 135 

profit by the example of those who have gone before us, 
"considering the end of their conversation, Christ Jesus, 
the same yesterday, to-day, and forever" 



136 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Outlines of ten sermons by Rev. A. Wiley, furnished as specimens of 
his style of pulpit preparation. 

The following outlines of sermons were not designed 
for the public eye, but are merely fragments of pulpit 
preparations found scattered among Wiley's, and must 
necessarily fall far short of conveying an adequate idea 
of his pulpit efforts. But meager as they are, they will 
serve, to some extent, to show his modes of thought and 
manner of investigation, and furnish some idea of his 
style as a preacher. To those who were accustomed to 
hear him, they will not fail to recall many pleasant asso- 
ciations and profitable hours when they sat under his pub- 
lic ministry, and felt that his word was to edification, 
ministering grace to the hearers. But apart from their 
authorship, they possess an intrinsic merit sufficient to 
warrant their publication, and which will make them both 
acceptable and profitable to the attentive reader. 



"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, -whom ye slew and hanged on 
a tree : him hath God exalted -with his right hand to he a Prince and a 
Savior, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we 
are his witnesses of these things ; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom 
God hath given to them that obey him," Acts v, 30-32. 

Introduction. — The carnal mind is enmity to God, and 
by consequence opposed to all his means of reformation : 
witness the persecution of the good in all ages ; especially 
of the prophets of Jesus Christ, whom the Jews crucified, 
and of the apostles, whom they endeavored to force not 
to preach. The apostles, in their defense, unfolded the 
wisdom and benevolence of God to benefit our world. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 137 

I. The exaltation of Christ. 

II. The design of his exaltation. 

III. The evidences of these things. 
I. The exaltation of Christ. 

1. The person exalted was of a twofold nature. He 
was fellow to the Almighty — Zech. xiii, 7 — the brightness 
of the Father's glory, and express image of his person — 
Hebrews i, 3 — the form of God ; that is, possessed of all 
divine perfections. Phil, i, 6. 2. But he humbled him- 
self by becoming incarnate, and taking upon him the form 
of a servant, so that he was truly God and really man, 
and, therefore, suitable to be a mediator between God and 
man. 3. Being found in fashion as a man, he became 
obedient unto death, and died a painful, vicarious, and 
meritorious death for the redemption of the world. 4. He 
was raised from the dead, and exalted with or at the right 
hand of God, and constituted the prime minister of state, 
to administer the affairs of the Divine government through- 
out the universe. Matt, xxviii, 18. All the high orders 
of Heaven are willingly obedient to him, and he restrains 
the powers of earth and hell. He is exalted as a Savior, 
in which capacity he has all things under his control, 
which are necessary to the salvation of human souls. As 
the plans of the Divine government extend to the universe 
of matter and of mind, no finite capacity can comprehend 
them, and no finite power can carry them into effect; 
hence the importance of the doctrine of the deity of the 
Son of God. As human suffering and helplessness need 
a sympathizing and interposing friend, we see the import- 
ance of the doctrine concerning the humanity of our Lord 
and Savior. In view of his capability to govern wisely 
and in power, and of his willingness to govern with good- 
ness, and to save by mercy and power, we should confide 
in and expect salvation from him. 

II. The design of Christ's exaltation. 
12* 



138 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

1. Christ gives repentance, by conveying instruction to 
the mind by his word, providence, and Spirit, so that man 
becomes acquainted with his moral character and his state 
of guilt and condemnation. 2. By his grace softening 
the heart, man feels himself wretched and undone ; but 
at the same time feels some sweet hope that he shall be 
saved. Without this hope, despair would harden the 
heart, and resentment would prompt man to blaspheme 
God and bid him defiance. When the human heart is 
sufficiently humbled to feel its wickedness, wretchedness, 
and danger, God is willing to pardon or justify the sinner, 
and thereby release him from the pains and penalties of 
sin in this world, so far as it can be done consistently with 
the probationary state of fallen creatures. By an entire 
release from the consequences of sin in the world to come ; 
by man's release from all misery and the enjoyment of 
paradise after death; by the resurrection of the body, 
and the glorification of the body and the soul after the 
general judgment, we learn that the plan of human salva- 
tion was worthy the wisdom, and goodness, and power of 
the omnipotent God, and we will say, "Halleluiah, for the 
Lord God omnipotent rei(/nethf" 

III. The evidence of these things. 

The apostles were witnesses that Christ was raised 
from the dead ; for three of their senses were employed 
in ascertaining the identity of his person : they saw him, 
they heard him, they felt him. They also recognized the 
sameness of his teachings before and after his resurrec- 
tion. They saw him, without any intervening agency, 
ascend till he became invisible, and the angels informed 
them that he was gone to heaven, there to remain till, in 
like manner, he should come again. 

The Holy Ghost was witness to the verity of the decla- 
rations of the apostles — by the gift of tongues, and by the 
power to work miracles. This evidence is external, but it 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 139 

is the privilege of all to have an internal witness of the 
truth of our holy religion. 

The text declares that the Holy Ghost is given to them 
that obey him, for the express purpose of testifying to or 
with their spirits that their sins are forgiven. The acts 
of obedience which God requires as conditional of the re- 
ception of the Holy Ghost, are repentance toward God 
and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Ghost not 
only testifies to the forgiveness of our sins, but purifies 
the heart and gives assurance of a fitness for heaven. 

Conclusion. — In view of the abundance and variety of 
evidence afforded us, how unreasonable is it to live in a 
state of uncertaint}^ ! This state of uncertainty is the re- 
sult of sinful skepticism or of disobedience to God. A 
life of general obedience to God is required as a condition 
of retaining the witness of the Spirit. 

" Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that 
ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain," 
John xv, 16. 

I. Ye have not chosen me. 1. As a Teacher; 2. As 
a Leader; 3. As a Savior. 

II. But I have chosen you. 1. To be my disciples; 
2. To be my followers ; 3. To be my witnesses. 

III. I HAVE APPOINTED, CONSTITUTED, OR DESIGNATED 

you to be my accredited witnesses, to promulgate my 
Gospel and reform the world. 

IY. Heaven's entire economy is a going economy, 
whether we consider the universe of matter or of mind. 
Consequently, an itinerant ministry is of Divine appoint- 
ment as the primary plan, and a settled ministry is only 
an appendix. Witness Christ and his apostles, the re- 
formers, Wesley and his coadjutors. They were to go 
into all the world with speed and energy. 

Y. The success of the apostles. The reformers, the 



140 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Wesleys, and their successors, by whose instrumentality 
Christianity was planted, and has been nourished from 
age to age, and will fill the whole world ; and their fruit 
will remain forever in the world of glory. 

Application. — As death leaves you judgment will find 
you. Death is at the door. Up and be doing, that you 
may shun perdition ! 

" But he said, Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God, 
and keep it," Luke xi, 28. 

It is an honor to be the mother of a great and good 
man, because it is circumstantial evidence of the great- 
ness and goodness of the mother; for we are more in- 
debted to our mothers than to our fathers for our intelli- 
gence and moral worth. A man's being remembered 
favorably will perpetuate a favorable remembrance of his 
mother. We have numerous instances of this, as Wash- 
ington, Wesley, and especially Jesus, the Son of Mary. 
In rich variety of matter, in simplicity of diction, in dig- 
nity of manner, the Son of Mary remains an unrivaled 
Teacher. Hence, the admiration and exclamation which 
gave rise to our text. We shall consider, 

I. The word of God. 

II. The hearing and keeping- that word. 

III. The blessedness of such as hear and keep it. 

I. The Bible. 1. It was Divinely inspired, as the 
prophecies delivered and the miracles wrought by its 
writers prove satisfactorily. 2. Xotice its internal evi- 
dence — sixty-six tracts written by more than forty differ- 
ent writers, and extending through a space of more than 
sixteen hundred years. Their views and representations 
of God all harmonize. The essence of God and his per- 
fections, natural, intellectual, and moral, are revealed in 
the Bible with a clearness which inconceivably transcends 
all the views of the Pagan world. The account of the 



EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 141 

creation of the universe is clear and satisfactory ; also the 
account that is given of Jehovah's natural and moral 
government. 3. The preaching of a living ministry, 
which is the word of God so far as it harmonizes with 
the written word. 

II. To hear signifies, 1 . To give attention ; 2. To un- 
derstand what we hear or read; 3. To receive cordially 
the truth presented. To keep the word of God signifies, 

1. To remember distinctly; 2. To retain it in the affec- 
tions ; 3. To perform all the things enjoined in what is 
heard or read, such as ceasing to do evil, and learning to 
do well, etc. 

III. 1. The people who are favored with the Bible 
and a living ministry are greatly superior to the rest of 
mankind in the development of their intellectual powers. 

2. They have a better knowledge of and higher motives 
to the practice of correct morality. 3. They have all the 
means requisite to secure their present and future salva- 
tion, so that they are abundantly blessed above any bless- 
ing which a relation to Christ in the flesh could bestow. 

Conclusion. — Happy are you if you know and improve 
your privileges, by walking in the light, and thereby 
enjoy the favor of God in this world, and his salvation in 
the world to come. But if you slight the Bible and the 
ministry of the word, how dreadful will be your crime 
and punishment ! Think of this, ye careless hearers and 
readers ; ye who do not understand, because you do not 
try to do so ; ye who do not receive the truth in the love 
of it ; you who will not cease from the ways of sin and 
folly, and pursue the ways of delightful obedience to 
God, your Maker, Preserver, Redeemer, and final Judge. 



"And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose 
face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for 
them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the 



142 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

books were opened : and another book was opened, which is the book of 
life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in 
the books, according to their works," Eet. xx, 11, 12. 

Introduction. — The sublimity of the Scriptures. 

I. The objects of the vision. These were, 1. A 
throne, emblematic of regal and judicial authority. Its 
greatness indicates the extended dominion and universal 
judicial authority of its occupant. Its color is emblemat- 
ical of the holiness of Jehovah's administrations and 
decisions. 2. The dead, standing before the Judge, from 
the smallest infant to the man of gigantic stature — from 
the most obscure beggar or hermit to the wealthiest and 
mightiest monarch that ever lived. 3. The occupant 
of the throne, whose face was once gazed on with mali- 
cious eyes, without consternation, was spit on, was smit- 
ten — but now so glorious that its rays of pure light 
caused the heavens and the earth to ignite and to fall 
away ; that is, their present form to be destroyed by con- 
flagration. 

II. The processes of the judgment. The Judge being 
seated, and the subject to be judged being arraigned, the 
books were opened. 1. The books of law, which were 
the books of natural law, written in the conscience ; the 
books of the Patriarchal, Mosaic, Prophetic, and Chris- 
tian dispensations. 2. The books of evidence ; the book 
of human recollection of the dispensations of Divine prov- 
idence ; the book of human conscience ; and the book of 
the Divine omniscience. From these will be ascertained 
all the thoughts which have flitted through the mind; 
the desires which have a place in the heart; the words 
spoken; the actions performed and their results. Moral 
actions are to decide the destiny of all moral agents; 
they were judged according to their works. Works ac- 
ceptable to God and promotive of salvation are repent- 
ance, faith, love, obedience to every precept, ritual and 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 143 

moral. Works which endanger the soul are impiety, un- 
belief, alienation from God and holiness, non-compliance 
with precepts, ritual and moral. 

"I -will therefore that men pray every-where, lifting up holy hands 
without wrath and doubting," 1 Tmothy ii, 8. 

Introduction. — Observe the awful imprecation con- 
tained in Jeremiah x, 25: "Pour out thy fury upon the 
heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that 
call not upon thy name." Observe, also, the propriety 
of these imprecations. Men and families neglect to 
pray, either because they are Atheists or because they 
are too proud to acknowledge their dependence on God. 

I. Prayer is a statement of wants and an expression 
of wishes. As wants and wishes exist in every place, so 
should prayer be performed in every place. 

II. Prayer should be accompanied with the lifting up 
of the hands, and placing them by faith upon the head 
of Christ, the victim. The hands are to be purified from 
all unrighteous acts. 

III. While we implore mercy and grace on our own 
souls, we must banish all unkindness toward others from 
our hearts. 

IV. All evil surmisings and unbelieving doubts should 
be banished from our minds. 

Conclusion. — 1. Prayer cultivates devout and fraternal 
feelings. 2. It detaches us from earth, and draws us 
toward heaven. 3. It prepares us for the devotions of 
another world. 



"For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto 
you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took 
bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: 
this is my body, which is broken for you : this do in remembrance of me. 
After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, 
This cup is the new testament in my blood : this do ye, as oft as ye drink 



144 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

it, in remembi-ance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink 
this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come," 1 CoKtviHiANs xi, 
23-26. 

Introduction. — The propriety of significant institutions 
to perpetuate the memory of important events, such as 
the feast of the Passover, and other divinely-instituted 
feasts ; fourth of July celebrations, if properly conducted ; 
the sacrament of the Lord's supper. 

I. We notice the time and manner of the institu- 
tion of the Lord's supper. 

I. The solemn night — the night upon which he was bap- 
tized — at the close of the Paschal supper, which brought 
to mind the bondage of their fathers in Egypt — the stub- 
bornness of Pharaoh — the ten signal judgments of heaven, 
the last of which caused universal wailing among the 
Egyptians. 2. He gave thanks to God for the bread and 
wine, which was given, (1.) To nourish man. (2.) On 
that occasion to be a suitable emblem of his body and 
blood. 

II. The gift of the bodt and blood of the Lord, 
with the objects in view. 

'1. Christ gave his body and blood a sacrificial offering 
to meet the claims of violated law — of insulted justice. 
2. The object. That man might obtain pardoning mercy, 
regenerating mercy, sanctifying grace, and eternal glory. 

III. The designated perpetuitv of the sacrament. 
1. To perpetuate the memory of Christ's atonement. 

2. To remind us of our perpetual need of his merit and 
grace. 3. To remind us of our constant duty to believe 
in, love, and obey him. 4. To remind us of his second 
coming. From all which it is manifest that the Church 
should observe this institution till the end of the world. 

Conclusion. — 1. All who are penitent expectants of 
salvation by Christ, should be regular in their observance 
of communion seasons. 2. Thev should be thankful for 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 145 

the exalted privilege of being guests at the table of the 
Lord. 3. They should resolve to be more than ever dili- 
gent to adorn the Christian profession. 



"Eighteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people," 
Prov. xiv, 34. . 

Introduction. — It is a received opinion, that general 
intelligence will exalt and sustain a free government. 
The thing, however, is impossible, because the mass have 
neither the time nor the means of acquiring general intel- 
ligence. Intelligence is relative; so that if the general 
community were intelligent the few would still be in ad- 
vance of them, and as capable of intrigue as ever. Some- 
thing more is needed. We notice, 

I. The means of national exaltation. 

II. The nature of that exaltation. 

III. The cause of national degradation. 
I. The means of national exaltation. 

I. Equal and wholesome laws. 2. An intelligent and 
faithful judiciary. 3. A wise and upright administration. 
4. Fidelity in making treaties. These are national con- 
cerns, in an official point of view, and are but a part of 
the righteousness which is requisite. As nations are com- 
posed of individuals, there must be individual uprightness 
founded on correct moral principles. 

II. The nature of that exaltation. 

Such righteousness as I have endeavored to describe, 
will exalt or give an elevated standing to a nation. 1. In 
the estimation of other nations. 2. In the estimation of 
the moral Governor of the universe. 3. Such a nation 
will have a becoming respect for itself. Other nations 
will fear to commit acts of aggression toward such a na- 
tion ; but should they commit such acts, Jehovah will pro- 
tect the righteous nation ; and a consciousness of upright- 

13 



146 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ness will inspire such a degree of confidence and courage 
as would defy the world. Witness the Israelites, while 
they were upright and enjoyed the favor of God. One 
could chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to 
flight. Witness our own country's memorable Revolution- 
ary struggle. 

III. The cause of national degradation. 

Trick and selfishness in making laws, ignorance and 
servility in the judiciary, and party purposes in the exec- 
utive departments ; a breach of party stipulations, drunk- 
enness, swearing, Sabbath-breaking, knavery: these are 
the causes of one nation's dishonor in the vision of sister 
nations, and of abhorrence by holy Heaven, and cause the 
people to be so base and cowardly that they have not the 
courage to maintain their dignity and independence. 

Conclusion. — Let it not be supposed that these remarks 
are designed to censure one political party and justify the 
other. Both parties must do better or God will curse us 
all; and so sure as there is a just God in heaven, unless 
our hasty rancor shall cease ; our liberty, our honor, and 
our happiness will depart from us, and we will become an 
execration in all the earth. Let each one examine his 
own heart and life and resolve upon personal reform, and 
then use the means to reform others. This course will be 
the means of lengthening our prosperity and happiness. 



""When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels 
with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: and before him 
shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from an- 
other, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: and he shall set 
the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. Then shall the 
King say unto them on his right hand, Coiue, ye blessed of my Father, 
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 
for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave 
me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed 
me: I -was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying. Lord, when saw we thee an 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 147 

hungered, and fed thee ? or thirsty, and gave thee drink ? When saw we 
thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when 
saw Ave thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall 
answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have 
done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto 
me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, 
ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: for 
I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat : I was thirsty, and ye gave 
me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye 
clothed me not : sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall 
they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or 
athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister 
unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, 
Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 
And these shall go away into everlasting punishment : hut the righteous 
into life eternal," Matthew xsv, 31-46. 

Introduction. — The uniformity of nature inspires the 
infidel and the wicked with a confidence that the present 
state of things will continue. How delusive are appear- 
ances ! Witness earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, the del- 
uge, etc. So will it be in the coming of the Son of man 
to judgment. 

I. The august scene introductory to the judgment. 

II. The process of judgment. 

III. The issues of the judgment. 

I. The august scene introductory to the judgment. 

I. The glorified appearance of the Son of man. 2. 
The attendance of all the holy angels. 3. The majestic 
throne from which lie will manifest his glorious dignity. 

II. The process of judgment. 

1. The assembling of all nations before him. 2. The 
separation of all mankind according to their characters. 
3. Their position on the right hand and on the left. 4. 
The sentence of each class. The first is, Come, ye blessed 
of my Father; blessed with a day and means of grace, 
which were improved by you, as your conduct proves ; for 
ye were kind to the pious, who were my brethren and 
my representatives in the earth. Come, and possess a 



148 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

kingdom prepared for holy characters from the founda- 
tion of the world. The second is, Depart, ye cursed; 
cursed because you neglected your day and means of 
grace, as your conduct proves; for ye were unkind to 
my disciples. 

III. The issues of the judgment. 

1. The righteous shall enjoy eternal life in a glorious 
and eternal kingdom. 2. The wicked shall be punished 
with the loss of all mental and corporal pleasures — with 
the infliction of mental and corporal sufferino-s to all 
eternity. Because there is wrath, beware ! 

"Let us not be -weary in w ell-doing: for in due season Ave shall reap 
if we faint not," Galatiaxs vi, 9. 

Introduction. — Man is created with active powers and 
a propensity to use them. He is furnished with means, 
and commanded to apply them. In using these means, 
he is pursuing Heaven's order, which is to help man by 
man and means, instead of a reiterated performance of 
miracles, unnecessarily. 

I. The good we should and mat do. We are to oper- 
ate on bodies and on mind, in seeking the needy and 
oppressed — in relieving them, if we have the means; if 
not, in using our influence with those that have. If we 
fail in such influences, they are still to have our sympa- 
thies : by instructing the ignorant ; by admonishing and 
exhorting the wicked; by encouraging the weak and the 
wavering. 

II. The inducements presented in the text. We 
shall have a harvest of consolations in our own hearts 
when we have diminished human suffering ; we shall 
have a harvest of souls converted, directly or remotely, 
through our instrumentality ; we shall have a harvest 
of glory, when we arrive at home, with the fruits of our 
labors. But all these things are on the condition that we 



EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 149 

do not despond. Despondency would cramp our energies 
and defeat our success. What an honor God confers on 
us in making us his instruments in doing good, temporal, 
spiritual, and eternal! With what alacrity should we 
exert all our powers and use all our means, for the time 
for action with us will soon be over ! 



"Acquaint now thyself -with. Him, and be at peace; thereby good shall 
come unto thee," Job xsii, 21. 

Introduction. — God's administration is not vindictive, 
but disciplinary or exemplary. In those ages and coun- 
tries destitute of a knowledge of future retribution, sin 
was more signally punished in this life. The friends of 
Job supposed his numerous afflictions were punishments 
of sin. Consequently, with a fair exterior, he must have 
been a miserable hypocrite, who had no correct knowl- 
edge of God. Notice the propriety of the exhortation, 
if the views of the man had been correct; and how 
proper it is now, in this and all other congregations 
where there are irreligious people. Observe, 

I. Duties enjoined. 1. Study the perfections of God. 
2. Study the character of his administration. 3. Seek a 
removal of his wrath from you. 4. Seek that grace 
which will destroy the enmity of your hearts against him. 
5. So live that He may remain reconciled with you, and 
you delighted in him. 

II. Advantages to be derived. 1. An acquaintance 
with great and good men expands the views, elevates 
the moral feelings, and corrects the life. How much 
more an acquaintance with the great God, the fountain 
of all perfection! 2. A knowledge that our conduct has 
justly offended a friend, gives pain; and a feeling of 
enmity toward a benefactor is still more tormenting ; 
consequently, more so when God is offended, and is the 
object of our enmity. How consoling, then, to know 

13* 



150 LIFE AND TIMES OF WILEY. 

that he is reconciled, and ourselves at amity with him ! 
3. The prospect of future felicity is most consoling. 

Conclusion. — How unwise to delay this advantageous 
acquaintance ! Delays are dangerous. Where present 
and future happiness are hazarded, how awfully dan- 
gerous ! How proper the exhortation, "Acquaint now 
thyself with him !" 



art Seta nk 



A HELP TO THE PERFORMANCE OF MINISTERIAL DUTIES, 



PREFACE 



In 1834, when Thomas A. Morris— now Bishop 
Morris — was editor of the Western Christian Advo- 
cate, I was invited, by the editor, to contribute arti- 
cles for the paper. Shortly after this request, there 
appeared a request in the paper which induced ine 
to commence a series of numbers, which were intro- 
duced in the following manner : 

" Me. Editob, — I saw, in the fourteenth number 
of your paper, a communication signed "W. C, 
dated at Logansport, Indiana, which I think ought 
to be answered in a satisfactory manner ; and as no 
person of age and experience has made the attempt, 
I will try, in my imperfect manner, to say some- 
thing on the subject on which information is earn- 
estly asked. As you desire short articles, I will 
pursue the subject in a series of numbers, of which 
this shall be the first — observing, such is the num- 
ber and variety of my duties, that I may not be 
able to furnish one number per week." 

I took several parts of our excellent Discipline as 
the foundation of my numbers, and, in amplifying 
these, the numbers swelled to twenty. These have 
been laying by me ever since, without any revision 
or any determination to publish them in a more per- 
manent form, as I have not had time or inclination 
to revise them. By providential family affliction 

153 



154 PEEFACE. 

being out of the regular itinerant service, I have 
concluded to revise my numbers, and prepare them 
for publication in book form. I am aware that we 
have many excellent books on the pastoral office, 
containing the duties of pastors ; but most of these 
are written for the use of ministers who are settled 
in stated congregations : such as Baxter's Reformed 
Pastor, Smith on the Sacred Office, Fletchers Por- 
trait of St. Paul, and many other kindred Avorks. 
We have an excellent work, by Bishop Hedding, on 
the administration of Discipline; but none of these 
take that extended view of the varied duties of a 
Methodist traveling preacher which seems desir- 
able ; and, so far as I know, there is no work which 
occupies the ground of mine. Were it desirable, I 
could have enlarged my work to a large and, I 
trust, a useful volume ; but it was not my wish to 
make a large book. 

If I mistake not, my junior brethren, and some 
others farther advanced, will find their duties, as 
laid clown in the Discipline, here amplified and 
illustrated so as to impress their minds advan- 
tageously. 

Although this little treatise is intended mostly 
for the preachers, yet our people may derive some 
benefit from its perusal, as they will see that the 
duties of the preachers and the people are recip- 
rocal. I now submit it to the care of Divine prov- 
idence, hoping that it will do good when the days 
of the writer's usefulness shall close, and he have 
no more a share in all that is transacted in this 
world. He feels that his sun is now declining, and 
that the night of death will soon be here. 



PREFACE. 155 

It will be seen that he has said little or nothing 
on the Divine call to the ministry; and the reason 
is, he addresses himself to those who are already 
ministers, and are doubtless satisfied of their call 
from on high, or they would never have entered the 
work. To run before a man is sent, in this case, is 
an alarming thing. I trust none of my brethren 
have done so. If any have run unsent, they have 
no valuable tidings, and they had better stop. 

Allen Wiley. 

Vevay, la., January 15, 1848. 



A HELP TO THE PERFORMANCE 



MINISTERIAL DUTIES 



CHAPTER I. 

The importance of general information to a Gospel minister. 

Man is naturally a proud being, and, consequently, 
disdains to be considered as ignorant and needing in- 
struction ; but if he should become willing to acknowl- 
edge his want of information, he will scorn to receive 
instruction from such as he may deem incompetent to 
instruct him. Many years ago, and long before I made 
a profession of religion, I heard the following conversa- 
tion, which I then thought, and yet think, reasonable : 

A. Will you go to meeting to-day? 

B. No ; when I go to hear a man preach, I want him 
to tell me something which I do not know, or reason 

rationally on what I think I do know, and Mr. can 

do neither. 

The preceding statements will suggest to every man 
that it is important that the public should be persuaded 
that the minister is capable of performing the work of a 
public teacher, or he will fall into contempt and conse- 
quent reproach. But the impression of his capacity can 
never be made, if he does not possess that capacity, with- 
out holding forth false pretenses to information, which a 

14 157 



158 LIFE AXD TIMES OF 

conscientious man dare not do; and if any man be so 
destitute of honor as to use deception, his imposition on 
the public will, sooner or later, be discovered, when he 
must sink into deserved infamy as a hypocritical pre- 
tender to what he does not possess. From the consider- 
ations preceding, we are led to the conclusion that it is 
very important, and almost indispensably necessary, for 
the minister to be a learned man in the present improved 
state of society. I wish not, however, to be misunder- 
stood when I say the minister should be a learned man, 
as if I meant that knowledge of languages which some 
suppose constitutes the chief if not the whole of litera- 
ture — which is far from being my meaning. I would 
observe, however, if the acquisition of the dead lan- 
guages — the Hebrew and Greek especially — is in his 
power, the minister should not neglect it, unless it would 
cause him to neglect something of more importance ; but 
the literature I have in view is quite another thing; it is 
a knowledge of those things which will expand the mind, 
and render him more apt to teach. The limits which I 
propose to this work will not permit me to enter into a 
long view of knowledge, but only a few items in brief 
detail. 

We are so connected with the earth which we inhabit 
that it seems to me every man. and especially the public 
teacher, should be acquainted with its structure, its na- 
ture, its relations to other parts of the visible creation. 
A knowledge of the earth, to be complete, would require 
a knowledge of geography, geology, and botany, together . 
with astronomy, as our world is only a part of the solar 
system, and this a part of the vast system of the uni- 
verse. But knowledge is so vast and life so short, and 
there is so much to do in so short a time, that the active 
servant of the Church, and of the world, must content 
himself with a partial knowledge of these things : but a 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 159 

knowledge of these things, to some extent, he should 
regard as his duty. The next branch of information 
should be an acquaintance with the inhabitants of the 
earth, embracing the fish of the water, the fowls of the 
air, the beasts of the field, and the insects of the earth 
and air, together with man, the lord of all the lower 
world. But when we consider the extent and variety 
of animated nature, we must despair of a critical knowl- 
edge thereof, and be content with some general informa- 
tion. The maxim, " Know thyself," should more par- 
ticularly claim the attention of the man of God ; and he 
should study his whole nature, his body, his mind, his 
moral powers, in doing which he may have the aid of 
many valuable authors in natural, intellectual, and moral 
philosophy. When he has studied his own constitution, 
he should then consider himself but as an individual of 
an immense race, with which he is connected by the ties 
of a common nature. Consequently, he will be led to 
acquaint himself with the history of his race in all ages 
and nations, which will open to him a great variety of 
bodily habits, intellectual capacities, and civil and relig- 
ious manners and customs, as existing and practiced by 
an order of beings essentially the same. In tracing the 
history of man in all its parts, it will be manifest that lit- 
erature has ever tended to raise the human mind far, 
very far above the common level of the untaught savage. 
But it will still be evident that the world by wisdom 
knew not God, and that revelation has alone unfolded 
the nature, perfections, government, and variegated econ- 
omy of God, as Creator and Preserver of all things and 
Redeemer and Savior of men. 

I am perfectly at a loss to know how any public 
teacher can neglect a close consideration of and an inti- 
mate acquaintance with the means which Heaven has 
furnished us to communicate our ideas to our fellows in 



160 LIFE AND TIME: 



OF 



an intelligent manner. As the public labor of a preacher 
is to convey instruction to human minds, it must be obvi- 
ous to all that he should have a philosophical knowledge 
of the vehicle by which he transmits his thoughts to oth- 
ers, in order that he may know its capability of perform- 
ing the service which he expects from it. I take it for 
granted every man called of God, prior to the meridian 
of life — and there are few called after that period — to 
preach, has the capacity of becoming acquainted with 
the grammar of his mother tongue, and that it should 
be a matter of conscience with him to become a gram- 
marian, so as to analyze what he reads, or hears, or 
speaks, or writes himself, that he may clearly understand 
its meaning. I know it may be said that many men, by 
mixing with good company, and reading good authors, 
have contracted the habit of tolerably-correct speaking, 
without the knowledge of grammar; to which I would 
reply, there have been a few, and only a few, such cases ; 
and the fewness of the number should forever deter oth- 
ers from presuming on so unwarranted a course as that 
practiced by the parrot in her imitation, or supposed imi- 
tation, of human speech. I am aware that many excel- 
lent young men are desirous of learning the science of 
language, but are deterred for want of an opportunity to 
realize the aid of a competent teacher. But let such 
remember, if they had five hundred able teachers they 
must themselves be the principal laborers in this thing. 
Many have thought the time devoted to grammar lost, 
as it might be employed in reading and collecting infor- 
mation that might be of more benefit for present practical 
use ; but let such remember that whatever tends to ex- 
pand the mind and train it in modes of correct thinking- 
is calculated to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge. 
The close application of the thinking powers, which is 
necessary to acquire a good knowledge of language, will 



REV.. ALLEJS r WILEY. 161 

prepare the mind for close thinking' and that laborious 
research which are requisite to enable man to make ad- 
vancements in any intellectual pursuit. Perhaps some 
will say our fathers in the Gospel were successful far 
beyond any of their sons, without the various information 
now urged upon us.* There is no man who feels more 
reverence for them than I do, and who rejoices more in 



* That God rules and adapts means to ends, in the moral as well as in 
the natural" world, is obvious to every observing mind. Is a downtrodden 
nation to be led from the land of oppression? Divine providence prepares 
the instrument. A cast-out babe is taken up from a watery grave by a 
member of the royal family, in consequence of which he receives a thor- 
ough education, which expands his mind. But this alone will not do ; for 
he must spend forty years in a pastoral life, mostly in a wilderness, so as 
to invigorate his body and give firmness to his mind, that he may endure 
hardness for a long time, as God foresaw he would have to do in leading 
an ignorant and stubborn people. Is Judaism to be superseded, and is 
Paganism to be subverted, and Christianity to take the place of both, and 
be firmly planted in the world? The instruments are to be provided, and 
this is to be done by selecting, for the most part, hardy, sea-faring fisher- 
men, who had good but illiterate minds. The want of languages was sup- 
plied by miracle, so that they might be prepared to preach to all nations 
in the varied languages of earth. We, however, find among them an 
officer of the lioman government in the person of Levi, and a thorough- 
bred scholar and a Roman citizen in the person of Paul. Is a corrupt and 
vitiated Christianity to be reformed ? God provides the instruments. We 
see a resolute Luther, who fears neither men nor devils. But will not his 
rash and dogmatic manner disgust and alienate every body from him? 
Behold the wise, the mild, the good Melancthon, to counteract the rash- 
ness of Luther ! Is languid Christianity to be roused to energy and dili- 
gence? See the fit instruments in the Wesleys, and Whitefield, and oth- 
ers suited to the work! Is the same work to be done in the wide-spread 
colonies, afterward United States of America? Behold the instruments 
in the first and some succeeding races of Methodist preachers ! Many of 
them were men of uncommon bodies to endure the fatigues incident to 
their extended travels and intense labors. Were we of the present day 
accurately informed of the number of miles which they rode, and the 
number of sermons which they preached, and the vehemence with which 
they preached them, we would be astonished above measure, and be ready 
to say, Can these things be so? Can we behold so many bodies able to 
endure so much labor for so long a time, without believing there was a 
14* 



1<32 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the success that attended them ; but "sve should ever bear 
in mind that their hearers, like many of themselves, were 
illiterate and could not discover their defects ; but this is 
not the case in our day. They did not possess the facili- 
ties to acquire information which we do, and of course it 
was not expected of them. But now if a young man, 
with the variety of means in his power, passes on from 



special providence in the call of these men to the work? It is true the 
indomitable resolution of their souls tended to invigorate and sustain 
their bodies; but this resolution was the gift of God. If we turn from 
their bodies to their minds, Ave shall see the same adaptation of means to 
ends. As I said in the chapter to which this note is appended, they were 
not generally learned men ; but as it regards natural intellect, they were 
generally men superior to the people of their age and country; and, so 
far as time would permit and they had means to do so, they improved 
their minds so that many of them became, to some extent, scholars and 
pretty general readers, ami in the science of saving souls they were the 
best-informed men in the laud. Take their number and the number of 
the population on which they operated, and it will be seen that they were 
successful far beyond the success of their successors. The secret of their 
success will be found in the fact that they labored aloue for success; for 
such was the general odium attached to them in the public mind that 
they made no calculation on being admired as men of talents, and they 
preached only to turn men from Satan to God; and great was their suc- 
cess in winning souls. Viewing ail the circumstances, we may say they 
were God's own men, fitted for his own work, and adapted to the times 
and circumstances as they then were. 

If there are any men whom I venerate, they are the first Methodist 
preachers on this continent. Their immediate successors also share largely 
in my veneration. I respect all my brethren in the ministry, but not as 
I do these primitive men of God. Those who have the means should 
hasten to rescue their memory and work from oblivion. I have tried to 
do so, in a few cases, of those who were of an early day ; but not the first 
preachers, for they were mostly gone before my time. I meant not to 
speak disparagingly of the fathers. Had I the means of information, 
there is nothing in which I would take more delight than in presenting 
to the world the faithful portraits of those most excellent men to whom, 
under God, we are indebted for the privileges which we, as a people, now 
enjoy. Peace to their memories, while I indulge a hope to see them, 
and hear them recount their labors and success, when all their sons and 
daughters shall meet them in Abraham's bosom. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 163 

year to year without literary improvement, he is looked 
upon — and that justly — as wanting capacity or as crim- 
inally indolent. If he is supposed to want capacity, 
doubts arise as to the reality of his call to the ministry. 
If he is thought to be criminally indolent, he is despised 
as a "locum tenens," holding the place but not doing the 
duties of a minister. 

The minister, having acquired the knowledge partialJy 
specified, should remember that his acquirements are not 
to be used, primarily, to make himself shine, but to en- 
able him the better to understand and more forcibly pre- 
sent the religion of the Bible before the people in all its 
dimensions, that he may be a workman that needeth not 
to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 



164 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER II. 

The importance of Biblical knowledge and pulpit preparation to a min- 
ister, and the prudent and earnest manner of his delivery. 

If a man would accomplish any thing of importance, 
the first grand concern is, to acquire the capacity for do- 
ing the thing he undertakes. That the duties of the min- 
istry are important, no man can deny or doubt, who con- 
siders the bearing they have on the glory of God and the 
happiness of man in this world and that which is to come. 
Therefore, our first business will be to point out the qual- 
ifications proper for the minister of the Gospel. An inti- 
mate knowledge of the Gospel is, beyond doubt, necessary 
to that man who would preach it, so as to have that ex- 
tended success that will make men wise unto eternal sal- 
vation. And as the days of plenary inspiration have 
passed by, this knowledge can only be acquired by the 
means which Heaven has ordained to so desirable an end. 
To acquire a proper knowledge of the Gospel, an intimate 
acquaintance with the book containing it must be ob- 
tained ; and this can be gained onlv bv the aid of the 
means which are in our reach. 

The minister should consider the Gospel as diffused in 
every part of the Bible. In the Old Testament it is pre- 
sented in types and shadows, prophecies and promises ; in 
the New, by historic accounts and inspired doctrines : con- 
sequently, the man of God must study the Bible with an 
intensity as much superior to the study bestowed on arts 
and sciences, as salvation is superior in importance to arts 
and sciences. Perhaps the best method to study the 
Bible is to read it in a consecutive order, frequently 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 165 

comparing the types and shadows with the historical de- 
tails and doctrines, so as to have a clear view of the grad- 
ual developments of truth as the world was able to bear. 
Another great help in reading the Bible is, to analyze it 
in its strict grammatical meaning, especially in the ety- 
mology of its words, that their ideal meanings may be ob- 
tained; and to this end aid should be sought from the 
labors of wise and good men, who have made the Bible 
their principal study during their whole lifetime. Care, 
however, should be exercised not to substitute the think- 
ing powers of others, for that laborious scrutiny that the 
man's own mind should exercise, in forming his own judg- 
ment of the matter he may be investigating. 

The foregoing remarks regard the general course of 
study to be pursued by the minister, in acquiring a gen- 
eral knowledge of the holy Scriptures; but I will now 
suppose he is about preparing a subject for the pulpit, 
which is to be a savor of life unto life, or of death unto 
death : I need not say he feels an anxiety known only to 
the conscientious and faithful minister. He now retires, if 
possible, from every thing that would divert his thoughts 
from the subject which he wishes to discuss ; he reads it 
with trembling care and prayerful attention ; he weighs 
every sentence, every clause, every word; its context 
with parallel passages ; its connection with the whole sub- 
ject-matter of divine revelation. After which he forms 
his plans or divisions. He next considers the important 
matter to be placed under each head; he now considers 
the relation one part has to another, and then the bearing 
the whole may have on the congregation, which will be 
edified and blessed, or disgusted and stumbled by his per- 
formance. If it be in his power, he then examines some 
able commentator, so as to form an estimate of the cor- 
rectness or incorrectness of his own views, that he may 
alter and amend it if it be deemed necessary, before his 



166 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

sermon is delivered as a message from God to dying man. 
All this labor is performed with frequent prayer for Heav- 
en's light, to direct him into all the truth that may be 
proper on that occasion. He then goes to the people with 
a humble mind and a dependent spirit, to declare to them 
the holy truths of the Most High. 

Having thus prepared his subject, he should next con- 
sider the character and capacity of his congregation, that 
he may adapt his manner and style so as to accomplish 
the object in view ; namely, to win their souls. He should 
now remember that simple nature is to be his guide in the 
manner of his delivery, and that he should keep himself 
at the utmost distance from every thing affected or bor- 
rowed ; for all men despise affectation in the minister of 
the Gospel, however they may tolerate it in themselves 
or others ; and, indeed, it should not be tolerated in the 
minister, as it is a species of hypocrisy which should 
never tarnish the man of God. He should now consider 
what must be accomplished in winning the souls of his 
audience. He will regard his congregation as intelligent 
beings, whose judgments are to be informed, and, conse- 
quently, his language will be perspicuous and strong, that 
it may reach the understanding and make an indelible im- 
pression on the mind, that his matter may be well under- 
stood and lastingly remembered. He should next recol- 
lect that his audience are beings possessed of passions, 
which must be operated on, or they will consent to all 
that may be said, but remain careless as heretofore. But 
in moving the passions, he will discriminate between those 
passions that may be moved without any beneficial result, 
and those, the moving of which will produce lasting good. 
The sympathies of a man may be operated on, and no 
good result, as is evident from the effect produced, without 
any beneficial result, by the novels and tales with which 
our land is flooded ; but when the fears, the hopes, the 



EEY. ALLEN WILEY. 167 

desires, the anxieties of a congregation are roused, good 
must result. The Bible is replete with matter calculated 
to produce the end intended. In this book we are pre- 
sented with man as an offender against God; in conse- 
quence of which, he is exposed to an eternity of woe ; and 
his exposure is continual, as he knows not the time when 
he shall sink to rise no more forever. Who can avoid fear 
under a lively impression of this his danger? which ought 
to be laid open and pressed home on the sinner with much 
earnestness by the feeling minister, whose whole soul 
should be in this work of awakening the fears, which are 
calculated to deter the sinner from a further pursuit of a 
criminal and dangerous course of conduct. The Bible 
also presents views and considerations which are calcula- 
ted to excite the hopes of the poor, dismayed criminal; 
for there we behold the God of love giving his Son for the 
chief of sinners, that they may be saved from going down 
to the pit of everlasting destruction. If God so loved the 
world as to give his Son for it, he surely will give the pen- 
itent sinner a full pardon of sin, and effect a change in 
his heart by the operation of the Holy Spirit, and also 
give an evidence of adoption which will satisfy the anx- 
ious mind that Heaven's favor is obtained. 

To be successful in the awakening, and conversion, and 
salvation of souls, the most important thing is for the min- 
ister to feel that he is an embassador for Christ, and that 
he, in the name and place of Christ, is beseeching men to 
be reconciled to God. In order that any man may so feel, 
he must be fully persuaded that God has called him to 
the office and work of the ministry. That a man may be 
successful, he must not only feel that he was called to be 
an embassador for Christ, but that he is still such. It is 
very possible for a man to be moral and attend to the 
forms of religion, and preach in a formal way when his 
unction is gone. In this state he may preach with good 



168 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ability, and be admired for his talents, but the seals to his 
ministry are few and far between. Then, my brethren, 
if you would save souls, you must so live and believe, 
that God may live in you, and beseech men, by his plead- 
ing Spirit in you, to repent, and turn and believe, and live 
a life of holiness on earth and of glory hereafter. In a 
word, we should feel, in every sense and in the whole of 
every sermon, that we are a savor of life unto life, or a 
savor of death unto death ; and surely the man of sensi- 
bility, who feels, in every sermon, that he will be the in- 
strument of salvation or of the augmented damnation of 
his hearers, will preach in view of the judgment-seat of 
Christ and of the realities of eternity. And did we all 
preach in this way, we would see more fruit of our labor 
in the ministry. I know this intensity of feeling is painful 
to human nature, and will be calculated to abridge our 
days; but so preached Christ and his primitive ministers, 
and so preached the ministers in all extensive revivals of 
religion since the apostolic age. 

If we read the lives of Whitefield, Bramwell, Smith, and 
others, and the journals of Abbott, Garrettson, and others, 
we will find that they so felt and preached in the days of 
their great prosperity and success ; and if we look back 
to the days of our own greatest success, we will remem- 
ber that we ourselves used to preach in a similar state of 
feeling. Can we not remember how we sometimes felt a 
sense of the all-pervading presence of God? We seemed 
to realize that God was all around and in us, and that he 
spoke by our lips, our tongues, eyes, cheeks, hands, feet. 
and. in a word, by our whole bodies and souls. Can we 
ever remember preaching with such feelings without fruit ? 
Were not sinners awakened and converted, and believers 
built up on their most holy faith ? Xow. if we could only 
get into the same frame of mind and fervor of feeling 
and spirit, we would see similar fruits of our labor; for 






KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 169 

human hearts are the same, and will feel under similar cir- 
cumstances. It is true, we might not live so long in this 
world, but we would do more good while we do live. 

O let us pray, my brethren, for this holy unction, that 
we may make full proof of our ministry, and do the work 
of evangelists, that God may give us many seals to our 
ministry, and many stars in our crown in the day of our 
rejoicing. 

15 



170 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER III. 

The necessity of system and diligence in study to acquire the informa- 
tion necessary to a minister. 

In the two former chapters I confined myself chiefly to 
the information necessary to a preacher, that he may be 
qualified to perform profitably the public duties of his 
office. It is my purpose, in this chapter, to be a little 
more particular in pointing out the methods to be pursued 
in the acquisition of the requisite knowledge. As my ob- 
ject is, principally, the benefit of inexperienced young 
men of the Methodist Episcopal Church, I shall adapt my 
remarks to their situation especially, as they need aid. 
The number and diversity of their employments and du- 
ties are, to some extent, calculated to confuse and perplex 
the mind, and thereby discourage it in the pursuit of val- 
uable information. All must acknowledge the itinerant 
life has many inconveniences, especially in breaking in 
upon that regular arrangement of time that may be de- 
sirable, in order to pursue study satisfactorily ; but these 
inconveniences are not so many nor so great as to retard 
improvement, if the man be economical of his time. Let 
us take one day and consider the time to be used, and the 
manner of using the same. I hope I shall not be consid- 
ered severe, when I allow only seven hours for sleep, 
which will be enough for the man who makes it a matter 
of conscience not to sleep more than nature needs : and if 
he does not, I at once despair of his usefulness, and would 
advise him to go home and follow some business that will 
not bring him before the public as a reproach to his pro- 



EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 171 

fession.* On an average he will need two hours to ride 
to his appointments, and two more to hold meeting ; fif- 
teen minutes in the morning, and the same in the evening, 
to attend family worship, where he may stay, will make 
half an hour ; twenty minutes, three times each day, for 
private devotion, will make one hour; thirty minutes, 
three times per diem, for eating, will be one hour and a 
half; and to the foregoing may be added two hours em- 
ployed in profitable conversation with the children and 
others, where he may be; all of which will make sixteen 
hours out of twenty-four, leaving eight to be employed in 
mental culture, which will be as much time as most con- 
stitutions can endure close mental application, without 
endangering the health of the body. I have allowed two 
hours for riding, which, however, in fair weather, I con- 
sider the best time for learning grammar, or logic, or any 
similar study, or in preparation for the pulpit ; and if thus 
employed, may be added to the eight, which will make 
ten to be used in every twenty-four, in gaining a good 
store of general knowledge. Now, we behold the young- 
man, with eight hours or more on his hands for valuable 
use, or the most criminal abuse ; the latter of which will 
take place unless he remember what he is styled — a Meth- 
odist; that is, one who has method in all his pursuits, a 
want of which has been the cause of failure to hundreds 
who might have been eminent, but who have wasted their 
energies to no purpose. Every young man who enters 
the traveling connection, in the annual conferences, has an 
excellent course of theological study pointed out to him 



-"'When this was written most of the circuits were large, and had nearly 
as many appointments as there were days in the round, and some of them 
more, so that the people did not then expect as much pastoral visiting as 
they do now. The industrious preacher now can use the time in visiting 
that was used by his predecessors in riding, and thereby be a blessing to 
his charge. 



172 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

by the bishops, as they are required to do. But I have 
found many young men of good understanding, who have, 
somehow, strangely overlooked the course of study, and 
have fixed their minds entirely on the catalogue of books 
connected with the course, and suppose they are bound to 
read so many books, which is all that is required of them ; 
in consequence of which they read, and read, and do not 
use the information contained in the books to enable them 
properly to understand the things recommended to their 
attention, or they would pass a better examination than 
many of them do. When a young man is presented with 
the course of study, he should regard a knowledge of the 
same as in his power, and he should firmly resolve in his 
mind that he will not be found deficient when he shall 
pass his examination ; and should he so resolve, and 
firmly pursue the steps necessary, he will not be found 
greatly deficient. Some branches of knowledge are rec- 
ommended in the preceding chapters of this work, which 
are not directly embraced in the course of study recom- 
mended by the bishops ; but it is evident that they regard 
the things which I have noticed as useful to the preacher, 
that lie may clearly understand, and properly teach, the 
wholesome doctrines of the Bible. In the catalogue of 
books recommended, there is one work which should be 
greatly prized and closely studied, for the great diversity 
and extent of information it contains on almost every part 
of the Creator's works : I mean Wesley's Philosophy. 
There is another work not included in the catalogue, which 
I regard as almost invaluable : I mean Beattie's Elements 
of Moral Science, which is perspicuous and interesting, 
and ought to be read by every young minister, as there is 
nothing in it calculated to mislead the unwary, if I have 
a correct recollection of its contents. I will now suggest 
what may be considered, in a general point of view, a 
profitable division of time, in the pursuit of information. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 173 

At least two hours in each day ought to be spent in a 
close attention to Biblical studies ; and more, if it be found 
necessary, to enable the young preacher to bring out of 
his treasury things new and old. Two hours may be em- 
ployed, beside the time in riding, for the study of gram- 
mar, till that science be acquired. Two hours may be 
spent in reading doctrinal, and two in historical and sci- 
entific works. 

Although I have laid down a division of time to be 
appropriated to the different kinds of reading specified, 
I do not suppose it will be invariably pursued all the 
time, so as to preclude all miscellaneous reading ; for, did 
I suppose this would be the case, I would rearrange the 
time and assign a portion to reading our periodical publi- 
cations and most or all our valuable biographies, that the 
preacher may know what is going on in the world and the 
Church, and how good men have lived, and labored, and 
died, that he may be encouraged to do as they have done 
before him. He will find many casualties breaking into 
his arrangements, when he will have it in his power to im- 
prove, in this miscellaneous reading, the shreds of time that 
would otherwise be lost forever. My dear young breth- 
ren, I know your embarrassments in pursuing the path to 
knowledge. Many of our truly-good people are very fond 
of conversing with the preachers, and their fondness for 
pleasant conversation makes them forget the tax they are 
imposing on your time ; and there is another class which, 
although not very bad, is not so good as it might be. 
This class embraces those persons who read but little and 
think less, but will talk all day, and much of the night, 
without any definite end in view. Therefore, you must 
be resolute, or all is gone. I would advise you to be 
courteous to all, according to their age and standing ; but 
at the same time, modestly and mildly, let all know that 
you have your rules for the improvement of your minds, 
15* 



174 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

which arc with you a matter of conscience that you can 
not, dare not violate. If you pursue this course with rea- 
sonable people, they will see the propriety of your declining 
long conversations when you have so much to learn, and 
they will admire and approve your course. The ignorant 
and troublesome you will have to get along with as well 
as you can; but shnn an austere and morose behavior 
while intent on study, or you will bring yourselves and 
your studies, too, into contempt with the people that do 
not weigh these matters as they should. In this matter, 
"be ye wise as serpents and harmless as doves." 



KEV. ALLEN WILEY. 175 



CHAPTER IV. 

Of the matter and manner of preaching. 

The ninth section, chapter first, of the Methodist Dis- 
cipline, and answer to the second and third questions, 
contain an excellent summary of ministerial duties and 
proprieties. When we consider the number of human 
beings in the world, and the number of things of which 
they are ignorant, and which it is important for them to 
know, and when we further consider the fewness of men 
that can be spared from the ordinary avocations of life, 
and also the want of means to support a great multitude 
of public teachers, we shall see the wisdom and goodness 
of God in appointing public oral instruction as the means 
by which the condition of the human race shall be mel- 
iorated. From the foregoing observations we can dis- 
cover the framers of our economy as a Church acted 
according to the order of Heaven, in placing preaching 
as the first duty of those whose office makes them the 
teachers of religion. Here I might say much on the 
matter, method, and manner of preaching; but a few 
remarks on the present occasion must answer our pur- 
pose ; and these remarks shall be chiefly founded on the 
answer to the first question in section twelfth of the Dis- 
cipline. 

While man is in health and prosperity he realizes such 
a buoyant state of feeling that he does not apprehend 
much to be amiss with him, so that he lives in a careless 
and inconsiderate manner, not perceiving or fearing the 
danger to which he is exposed every hour. Conse- 
quently, the first important work of the minister is to 



176 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

convince him of certain important facts that are to have 
a beneficial influence on his mind and manners. He must 
be convinced, in the first place, that God is the moral 
governor of intelligent and, consequently, accountable 
creatures, who are bound, by the nature of the Divine 
claims, to love Jehovah with all their powers, and to 
evince this love by a regular conformity to the precepts 
in the Bible. Next, he must be convinced that he has 
failed in exercising the affections required, and also in 
performing the external duties demanded of him. It 
will follow, as a matter of course, that he should be con- 
vinced that he has incurred the displeasure of a holy and 
just God, who is the Governor and Judge of all men, 
and that, in incurring his displeasure, he has subjected 
himself to all the pains and penalties annexed to a viola- 
tion of Heaven's laws. It will also be expedient to con- 
vince him that such is the demerit of sin, and such the 
imbecility of fallen man, that he is unable, by works of 
righteousness which he can perform, to recommend him- 
self to the favor of God, and that if he ever is rescued 
from the wretchedness in which he is involved and the 
danger to which he is exposed, it must be by an interpo- 
sition of Heaven, altogether gracious in its nature. Hav- 
ing succeeded in this important work of convincing, the 
next thing is to present a sufficient remedy against the 
ills arising from sin ; and this remedy is to be found alone 
in the vicarious sufferings and death, the triumphant res- 
urrection, the glorious ascension, and the available inter- 
cession of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is to be offered in 
all the fullness of his merit, virtue, and power, to save 
sinners from condemnation, impurity, and wretchedness, 
which they feel while laboring under a sense of condem- 
nation and a fear of future punishment. Man is prone 
to run from one extreme to another, and this proneness is 
no where more manifest than in the opposite states of the 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 177 

careless sinner and the truly- awakened man; for lie who, 
a little while ago, was careless to such an extent that he 
was an astonishment to angels and men, is now ready to 
fall into a state of utter despair, so that all the under- 
standing and affections of the man of God will now 
be needed to invite the sinner so affectionately to come 
to Christ that he may take encouragement to come and 
obtain life through his name. Should the minister be so 
successful in convincing, in offering Christ, in inviting, as 
to be the happy instrument of the man's genuine conver- 
sion to God, his work is comparatively but just begun. 
We should pity the ignorance and mistaken calculations 
of parents who, on embracing a lovely babe, should sup- 
pose all their care and labor for their offspring were now 
over, and we should be apt to remind them that their 
care, and labor, and anxiety, were just beginning. This 
ease may fitly represent the case now under consider- 
ation ; for a new convert is as helplessly and dangerously 
circumstanced, in reference to his spiritual state and life, 
as the most tender infant is, as it regards his situation 
and life in a natural sense. Hence the importance of the 
fourth item in the answer before named. If nothing were 
known in the world but orthodox Christianity, under the 
Christian name, there would still be much need of guard- 
ing the young disciple against the wiles of the devil and 
the machinations of the elements of the world, which are 
always opposed to God and that vital religion which is 
needful to save the soul ; but, unfortunately for the min- 
ister and his young converts, this is not the case ; for the 
world is flooded in our day, and especially in this western 
country, with a spurious Christianity that is erroneous 
in doctrines and defective in experience, and which will 
deceive and forever destroy many souls, and which ren- 
ders the labor of building up peculiarly difficult but impe- 
riously necessary, or all our former work will be entirely 



178 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

fruitless in tbe final issue. In this work of building up, 
every truth calculated to enlighten the mind and warm 
and refine the heart should be unfolded and applied so 
far as the capacity and opportunity of the minister will 
serve, that a building of knowledge and holiness may be 
reared on a permanent foundation, which is Christ Jesus, 
the same yesterday, to-day, and forever. All erroneous 
and strange doctrines ought to be driven away from 
among the people belonging to every man's charge, so 
far as it is in his power to drive them away ; but, in 
opposing error, great caution is needful, that the minister 
may not indulge in an improper spirit in doing a good 
work; for if he be actuated by the feelings of human 
ambition only — which is a possible case — he will produce 
similar feelings in his opponents, and then he will avail 
but little in his endeavors. Pure zeal for the glory of 
God and the good of immortal souls should be the feeling 
that should govern him, and then he will invariably have 
success to some extent. 

Having said so much about the method and matter of 
preaching in this chapter, I can not, if I were so inclined, 
say much as to the manner of preaching ; and, indeed, I 
do not deem it necessary, as I said all, or nearly all, I 
have to say on this subject in the second chapter, though 
it was there said in an incidental way. The preacher's 
manner should be free from every thing calculated to dis- 
gust persons of a truly-refined taste — by which I do not 
mean that fastidious squeamishness that will be dis- 
pleased with truth itself unless it is dressed in garlands 
and flowers, Avhich, in my opinion, as well become the 
gravity of the pulpit as gaudy decorations would the 
putrid corpse in the coffin and the tomb. But I do not 
mean that either language or sentiment should be undig- 
nified, but that both should be bold and manly, such as 
become the most dignified subject in the whole compass 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 179 

of human or angelic thought, as the Gospel undoubtedly 
is. In the next place, it should be so modest, so grave, 
so affectionate, and so earnest as to convince the hearers 
that he is an honest man who is endeavoring to recom- 
mend his Master and his religion, and not himself. "We 
preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and our- 
selves your servants for Jesus' sake." The young man 
considers these important matters attentively, and he ex- 
claims, "Who is sufficient for these things?" Ah! my 
brother, no man who is not, to some extent, mighty in the 
Scriptures and apt to teach, and who is not guided by the 
Holy Ghost into all the truth, is calculated to make men 
wise unto salvation, "that he may save himself and those 
that hear him." It will readily occur to all that the 
method of preaching recommended by our fathers, and 
which forms the substance of this chapter, is designed 
particularly for the preacher on the circuit, who has the 
opportunity only once a month — if so often — to address 
the same persons ; for if a man preach to a regular con- 
gregation in a station, he may confine himself more to 
one topic in each sermon ; but even then he may, to some 
extent, embrace the four important items named, and still 
have a variety in his matter. If any man, in the honesty 
of his soul and in conformity to a call from God, preach 
according to the plan imperfectly sketched in this chapter, 
he may rest assured he will not "run in vain, neither 
labor in vain," and that the world and the Church will 
have reason to bless God that they were favored with 
the ministry of a useful man. But, on the other hand, 
should he prove to be an ignorant and an unfaithful 
teacher, he will be a curse to the world, the Church, 
and the conference of which he is an unworthy member, 
but more especially to the stationing power, which will 
not know what to do with him, as no circuit, station, 
or district will be willing to have him when his char- 



180 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

acter shall come to be known. Now, I ask my young 
brethren, who among you is willing to be considered as 
merely "creatus consumer e fruges: ,% "created to con- 
sume the fruits of the earth?" Surely none, none. 
Then let all arise and endeavor to better the condition 
of human society, remembering that God is not unright- 
eous to forget their work of faith and labor of love, and 
that all the souls won by them will be stars in their 
crown in the day of the Lord Jesus. Then "preach the 
word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, re- 
buke, exhort, with all lonsr-sufferins: and doctrine;" 
"Watch thou in all things; endure afflictions; do the 
work of an evangelist; make full proof of the ministry." 
Amen. 



I 



&EV. ALLEN WILEY. 181 



CHAPTER V. 

The duties of meeting the classes and visiting the sick. 

It is frequently objected to the economy of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church, that the number and variety of 
duties devolving* upon the traveling preachers are such, 
that they can not pay that particular attention to the per- 
sonal piety of each member of the Church, which the 
eeonomy of those denominations that have a settled min- 
istry will permit. Although there may be some truth in 
this objection, it is far from being an objection to the ex- 
tent that many suppose ; for our plan of religious econ- 
omy has provided for personal pastoral care by the adop- 
tion of class meetings, which are designed especially for 
personal inspection and oversight. Whoever will con- 
sider the manner in which a class is to be examined, 
according to the plan laid down in our general rules, will 
be convinced — if his mind be free from prejudice — that 
there never was a better plan devised to promote deep, 
experimental religion. The first grand object is to be- 
come truly acquainted with the spiritual state of the 
members of society; and this is to be done by a close 
examination of each one in particular in reference to his 
prosperity in the divine life. In the next place, suitable 
admonition is to be given, consisting of advice, reproof, 
comfort, and exhortation, as the case may demand. 

The nature of this religious examination is admirably 
calculated to lead him who examines, and those who are 
examined, to inquire into the state of their own hearts, 
that they may perform this work, as in the immediate 

1C 



182 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

presence of a heart-searching God. I know it has been 
said our class meetings are places where our people are 
led to depart from the truth, in giving an account of their 
gracious experience. But if this is the fact, it is a singu- 
lar fact that men should act contrary to the whole design 
of class meetings, and also contrary to the natural tend- 
ency of the exercises of the meeting. It may not be 
uncharitable to suppose that they who thus judge their 
brethren are inclined to do as they suppose others do. 
From the foregoing views it is evidently an important 
duty of an itinerant preacher of our order to be punctual 
in his attention to society or class meetings, which are an 
important part of Methodism ; and our experience and 
observation prove that these can not long be neglected by 
the preacher without ruining his usefulness among our 
people ; and, indeed, it should be so ; for every preacher 
who neglects to meet his classes is guilty of violating a 
solemn obligation, which he took upon himself tacitly 
when he commenced traveling, and in a formal manner 
when he was received into full connection; for he then 
promised to observe every part of the Methodist Disci- 
pline. I am aware many preachers preach so long and 
so loud that they are not well able to meet class after 
they are done preaching. But one criminal act can never 
be an excuse for another. A violation of the solemn 
promise not to speak too long nor too loud, is not a just- 
ifiable excuse for neglecting class meetings, which are 
indispensable to a growth in grace among our people. 
Perhaps some will say, You lay too much stress on class 
meeting ; for if it be of so great necessity, those denomin- 
ations who have not adopted it can not be deeply pious. 
To which I reply, Moral honesty requires every denom- 
ination to be consistent, and to observe that system of 
rules and regulations which it has adopted, and promised 
to observe, and which it has proclaimed to the world as 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 183 

the system by which it is regulated in its operations : so 
that whether class meetings be necessary or not necessary, 
to other denominations, to our own it is indispensable to a 
healthy state in religion; therefore, that preacher who 
habitually neglects to meet his classes, is, to a great ex- 
tent, guilty of the languor that may prevail in his circuit 
or station; for, although languor might possibly have 
prevailed among his people, the possibility is, it would 
not ; and if it had, not to the same extent that it does in 
consequence of his neglect. Considering the account 
every preacher has to give for all the souls committed to 
his watch-care, to the Head of the Church, it appears 
mysterious, how any Methodist preacher can, with a clear 
conscience, neglect the important duty we have been con- 
sidering, especially as this duty is to answer principally in 
the place of pastoral visits, paid by many ministers of 
other denominations to the people of their own commun- 
ion. But mysterious as it is, we have reason to fear this 
neglect is on the increase, and that it will continue to 
increase, unless the conferences are rigid in requiring 
their graduates and members to meet their classes regu- 
larly. 

The third item of duty belonging to a preacher, as laid 
down in the Discipline, is to visit the sick. Our Creator 
made us social beings, so that our happiness, to some ex- 
tent, depends upon our fellow-beings, when we are placed 
in circumstances the most favorable for enjoyment ; con- 
sequently, we greatly need the advantages of social inter- 
course, in those seasons of privation when health is gone, 
and we are the subjects of suffering by the hand of an 
afflicting providence. But it is a melancholy fact, that 
many who are the most ready to visit the sick, are not 
calculated to do them that kind of good which they most 
need ; for, to minister comfort to the body, and to divert 
the mind from things of a serious nature, for fear it will 



184 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

become gloomy, are supposed by many to be acts of the 
greatest kindness that can be performed for the afflicted. 
That the ministration of relief to the body of the sick is 
an act of kindness, none will deny ; but to divert the mind 
from serious things, for fear it will become melancholy, is, 
in most cases, an act of the most diabolical cruelty, be- 
cause it defeats the benevolent design of a gracious God, 
who sends affliction that man may be led to remember his 
latter end, and timely prepare to enter into that state of 
enjoyment which awaits the pious in another world. The 
intrusive visits of the light, the trifling, the skeptical, to 
the sick, are greatly to be deplored, and make the visits 
of the sober, godly minister the more necessary, to undo 
the mischief that may be done by the heedless. There is 
another class of visitors, more to be dreaded than even 
the most trifling that can be found : I mean those persons 
who believe so firmly in what I choose to call fatality, as 
to embrace ex animo — from the soul — either the monstrous 
doctrine of eternal, unconditional election and reproba- 
tion, or the more pleasing, but equally-dangerous doc- 
trine, of the absolute and unconditional salvation of all 
men. There is yet another class, that it is a great mis- 
fortune for any man to have about him when he is in 
danger of death: I mean those heartless and unreason- 
able physicians, who would rather their patients should 
die in their sins and go to hell, than be disturbed in their 
feelings on account of their danger: but, thank Heaven! 
we have some physicians who are of a better mind, who 
will honestly let the sick know their danger, that they 
may have some opportunity to prepare for death and 
judgment. 

When we consider how backward man is to remember 
his latter end, and the classes of visitors that have been 
named, it must appear very desirable that a humble, holy 
man should have an opportunity of improving the visiter- 






EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 185 

tions of Providence, in promoting the spiritual good of 
the sick; and the office of the minister is calculated to 
give him access to the mind of the man who is low with 
disease. Every minister, therefore, should consider it his 
duty to visit the sick, so far as circumstances will permit, 
that he may be the means, in the hands of God, of sav- 
ing souls, though it may be at the eleventh hour. In vis- 
iting those who are ill, we should take great pains with 
our own hearts, that they may be deeply impressed with 
the importance and difficulty of the work we have to per- 
form ; so that our minds may be led to a suitable depend- 
ence upon God, who alone can make our endeavors suc- 
cessful. If a minister visit a man who has never made 
any pretensions to religion, he should endeavor to con- 
vince his understanding that there is a necessity of the 
new birth, and to enkindle his desires for the same ; but, 
in accomplishing this important and necessary work, he 
should be very cautious not to be too easy and indifferent 
on the one hand, and too severe on the other ; for if he 
be indifferent, it will have a bad effect on the sick man, in 
making him doubt whether the minister himself really 
believes in the solemn realities of spiritual and eternal 
things; and if he be very severe, it may make the sufferer 
impatient, and thereby cause him to repel all that may be 
said to him on the subject of his salvation. If any class 
of visitors before named, should have improperly biased 
the judgment of the sick, great prudence must be used to 
' undeceive the man ; which will be best accomplished by a 
plain application of God's word to his understanding and 
heart, in such a way as to show the nature, importance, 
necessity, and possibility of the new birth, without which 
the kingdom of glory can never be possessed by any child 
of apostate and degenerate man. If the preacher have a 
voice for singing, a suitable hymn, sung with pious grav- 
ity, will usually be attended with good ; for grave melody 
16* 



186 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

has a powerful tendency to soften the heart, and the mat- 
ter of a sensible hymn will inform the understanding. 
Let the minister now remember, that the prayer of faith 
will save the sick; for the effectual, fervent prayer of a 
righteous man avails much ; and if any thing in the world 
is calculated to make a man earnest in prayer, and in 
pleading the promises of God, it must be to behold a sick 
man struggling for the pardon of his sins, and a prepara- 
tion to live a holy life, if he should be spared, or for 
heaven, should he die. But the preacher will more fre- 
quently be called to visit the sick of his own charge, that 
he may worship with them, and comfort them, in time of 
affliction and temptation ; and, if in his power, he should 
always attend such calls as a matter of conscience ; for, 
notwithstanding the uprightness of their deportment in 
general, the enemy of their souls will endeavor to darken 
their minds and dej)ress their spirits, in time of affliction; 
therefore, he should go with a mind and heart imbued 
with much devotion and religion, that he may be the 
means of relieving the tempted and sorrowful. Hitherto, 
we have been considering the good the preacher is to do 
in visiting the sick; but let him remember he will realize 
great good himself, for he must have a singular class of 
feeling, who can see a sick sinner struggling for salvation, 
and not have an increased discovery of the importance of 
religion, and not be stirred up to greater earnestness in 
warning men to flee from the wrath to come ; and not- 
withstanding we may be well grounded in the truth of 
our holy religion, from the variety and abundance of evi- 
dence in the Bible, and other books, which we may have 
read in defense of Christianity, yet there is no evidence 
which comes home to our hearts, as does that which arises 
from beholding the triumphs of the humble Christian in 
sickness and death; therefore, be diligent in visiting the 
sick. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 187 



CHAPTER VI. 

The gravity of a minister, and his prudence in female society, and the 
propriety of delay in getting married. 

In answer to the third question in the section on which 
we are now making remarks, we have many things of im- 
portance, on which volumes might be written; but a few 
passing remarks will be all that can be permitted in this 
work. For what might be said on the first answer, the 
reader is referred to my third chapter, and I will here say 
a few words on one thing which I there forgot : I mean 
the habit of writing our thoughts, that we may learn to 
express ourselves with precision and ease ; for I presume 
no man is aware, who is not in the habit of writing, how 
loosely and inaccurately he uses words and ideas in con- 
versation and in his public extemporaneous discourses. 
If any man have occasion to write on any subject, who is 
not accustomed to write, he will find a stiffness and dull- 
ness in his style, at which he will be mortified, as the 
writer of these numbers does ; for he never wrote more 
than two duodecimo pages for publication, prior to the 
work which he is now writing; and that you may not neg- 
lect the full improvement of your minds, I beseech you, 
my young brethren, to accustom yourselves to write on 
important subjects daily, if you have opportunity, and if 
you have not, do so as often as circumstances will permit, 
that you may acquire a facility of writing as readily as to 
speak on any important subject. 

The second answer contains many things of vast im- 
portance, that greatly demands the attention of the young 



188 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

minister; for man is so much the creature of habit that 
the course which he pursues in youth will probably be 
pursued by him through life. It is said of General 
Washington that he was never seen to smile during the 
whole time of the Revolutionary war; and, indeed, when 
we consider the state of affairs between Great Britain and 
the United States — then struggling for political exist- 
ence — and the doubtfulness of the struggle, and the 
painful consequences of a failure, and the relation of 
Washington to the state, and the responsibility under 
which he was placed, his gravity is not to be won- 
dered at. If the gravity of the great man just named 
was proper, while his mind was deeply impressed with 
the important concerns of his country, how much more 
does seriousness become that man who deeply considers 
the situation of a whole world that lies in the wicked 
one, and is in danger of perishing everlastingly, and who 
also considers the important part he is required to act 
and the results of his acts, on which the glory of God, 
the happiness of men, and his own happiness in this 
world and in that which is to come are suspended in 
some degree ! What is the political bondage of a nation 
compared with the loss of thousands of immortal souls 
forever, and the failure and consequent disgrace of a 
great general with the failure and consequent ruin of a 
minister of Jesus Christ ? 

Few men have that even balance of their minds which 
they ought to have. Consequently, they are in great 
danger of being injured by the want of seriousness in 
the minister. One class has a gravity tinctured with 
melancholy; and persons of this class will be hurt and 
prejudiced at the minister whom they may deem to be 
wanting in seriousness. Another class is prone to levity; 
and persons of this class will take encouragement from 
the example of the minister to indulge their proneness, 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 189 

to the great injury of their own souls and to the stum- 
bling of others, and thereby piety will be wounded in the 
house of its professed friends. While I contend for seri- 
ousness, I do not mean that moping, melancholy thing 
that seems to shut up the soul from every pleasurable 
emotion that it is our privilege to enjoy and our duty to 
express, while we are receiving the blessings of Provi- 
dence and grace — which afford us the pleasures of sense 
and peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, and 
a hope full of immortality, but that clear serenity of mind 
that will fit us for all the duties that we may have to per- 
form, whether in the Church, the family, or the closet, 
and for all company which it may be lawful, and inno- 
cent, and safe for us to visit. 

The Bible uses a very emphatic expression, in desig- 
nating a minister, by calling him a man of God — the 
peculiar property of God, and one who is to be employed 
in promoting the benevolent purposes of his Divine 
owner. Therefore, with the utmost propriety, his motto 
is, "Holiness to the Lord." If this be his motto, his 
whole person and possessions ought to be so given up 
and presented to the Lord that there may not be any 
cause of offense found in him by any, whether friends or 
foes. In the first place, his outward man should be so 
circumstanced that it may make an impression on the 
minds of beholders favorable to the religion of the min- 
ister; and it will be a matter of important inquiry to 
every conscientious preacher what appearance will be 
most likely to make that favorable impression that ought 
to be made ; and it will readily occur to him that a dirty, 
slovenly, and clownish aspect will not accomplish the de- 
sign he has in view. He will also as readily perceive 
that a gaudy, foppish appearance will be more unfavor- 
able ; for it might be supposed that the aspect first 
named might be the result of great mental application, 



190 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

but the other the result of a vain and foolish fondness 
for show. Therefore, he will adopt the proper medium 
between the clown and the fop. All the exhibitions of 
his mind, whether by words or actions, should be of such 
a nature as to show his whole mind devoted to God. 
Therefore, there will be nothing light in his words or 
actions, which would indicate a vacant mind ; but as his 
mind is furnished with useful knowledge and under 
proper discipline, his whole conduct will declare the 
inward man to be in such a state as he ought to be, 
to be acceptable to God. 

How a minister of the blessed Jesus can repeatedly 
indulge in those jests which are the fruit of his own 
mind, or in retailing those of other men, I do not know; 
and, truly, I do not want to know. What is the design 
of a jest? Doubtless to make the company present 
indulge in laughter. Let showmen learn their monkeys 
how to make fools laugh, as they are paid for this very 
purpose ; but never, no, never, let a man bearing the title 
of God's minister and the servant of the Church, indulge 
in such a preposterous course of conduct. Think, my 
brethren, what are jests in general, whether oral or in 
books? Nothing but downright lies. And can a man 
of truth and holiness deal in lies, for the purpose of mak- 
ing immortal souls, on the brink of damnation, laugh? 
Shame, shame ! But do not good people laugh at these 
things? Not often; for they are mortified to see the 
minister desecrate himself, so that none but the giddy 
are pleased at his absurd course. I suppose foolish 
talking is that kind of talk which fools talk; and fools 
talk about such things and in such a manner as is cal- 
culated to do no good to themselves or others. Hence, 
that minister who neither edifies himself nor those who 
hear him, by his conversation, is guilty of foolish talking, 
however innocent it may appear to himself or others. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 191 

The third answer is one of great importance to all 
men, but especially to young preachers ; for where there 
is great danger there great caution is necessary; and he 
must have a very imperfect knowledge of his own weak- 
ness who dares indulge in frequent conversation with 
females. In the first place, every young preacher should 
keep his affections from being entangled, unless he seri- 
ously intends matrimony ; and I hope our young men do 
not intend this till they have established their characters 
in their conferences and among the people, as stable and 
devoted ministers ; and this they can not do till they have 
traveled at least four years. I know, to some, this will 
be a hard saying ; but I can not help it ; for I declare, in 
the sincerity of my heart, that I have not known three 
cases in my life, where the preacher has married prior to 
the time named, but what it has been an injury to him or 
the work, and most commonly to both. That he should 
keep himself free in his affections will be admitted by all 
who consider the situation of a preacher, who is liable 
every year to be removed from one end of the conference 
to the other. There is another consideration of more im- 
portance than the freedom of the man's own affections : I 
mean the danger of entangling the affections of an inno- 
cent female. When a young man goes on a circuit, he 
goes virtually recommended by a whole conference as a 
man of character, of worth, of respectability, so that he 
has a passport to the good opinion, at least, of every 
young and worthy female on the circuit; and this good 
opinion gives him an opportunity to use his efforts to gain 
the affections of the unsuspecting, even where there are 
no direct proposals of honorable matrimony ; and the con- 
sequences, in many cases, may be that very suitable alli- 
ances may be rejected with the hope of obtaining him, 
who may be recommended by the conference, although 
the conference only recommended him as a man supposed 



192 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

to have religion, and calculated to do good as a preacher, 
and not as possessing all the natural and acquired quali- 
fications to make a good husband. It should also be 
remembered that our Lord declares that crime may be 
committed, where no law of God or man is actually vio- 
lated. Therefore, " flee youthful lusts." Much more 
might be said on this important subject, to show the 
great injury that may be done where none is intended ; 
but I trust enough has been said to show young men of 
sense, of virtue, of honor, and religion the propriety of 
the admonition in the Discipline, and also to guard them, 
in some degree, from danger to themselves and others. 
" Can a man take fire into his bosom and his clothes not 
be burned?" 

"Marriage is honorable in all." Why, then, advise 
the young men not to marry? I do not — but only to 
defer it till a suitable time. If, then, marriage be honor- 
able and of great importance, as all will admit — for our 
weal or woe, in this world and the next, much depends 
upon a happy or an unhappy matrimonial connection — 
it should not be lightly taken in hand by any, and partic- 
ularly by a minister of the Gospel, but with much prayer, 
deliberation, and counsel. Therefore, we see the propri- 
ety of the counsel, Take no step toward marriage without 
first consulting with your brethren. To what extent this 
counsel was regarded in former days I know not ; but 
with many in our day it is a dead letter, and the conse- 
quences, in many cases, are truly disastrous to the par- 
ties, their friends, and the Church. Sometimes a young 
man will pay his addresses to a young lady; they are 
received, his affections reciprocated, arrangements for a 
union made, and then, forsooth, for form's sake, he will 
consult with his brethren whether he shall or shall not 
perjure himself by breaking his solemn vow. If there 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 193 

may be reasons why it should be improper for him to 
marry the young lady whom he has chosen, he has put 
it out of his power now to receive proper counsel, as no 
man would meddle when things are carried so far. If 
the course just named manifests the wisdom of the ser- 
pent or the harmlessness of the dove, I think it is hard to 
be perceived. My brethren, do you deem matrimony so 
mean and dishonorable that you are ashamed to consult 
with wise and good men about it? If this be your view, I 
beseech you never marry ; but if you have the honor and 
dignity of a Christian and Christian minister, observe the 
Discipline of your Church in this thing. That a man 
ought not to marry a woman on whom he can not place 
his affections and in whom he can not repose entire confi- 
dence, is a truth which none will deny who are competent 
to judge in this matter. But judgment should lead the 
affections and confidence of a wise man, and not his fancy 
run away with his judgment, as is the case with many, to 
their final ruin. Therefore, my young brethren, if you 
wish to see many and happy days, be not precipitate in 
choosing a companion for life, and remember, a traveling 
preacher should choose a wife not merely for his own 
good, but also for the good of the people where he may 
live and labor from time to time. I would be glad if our 
young men would read the marriage of Mr. Fletcher and 
the introduction of his wife to the people of his parish ; 
and also the views of Dr. Clarke, exhibited when he sol- 
emnly ordained his son's wife by the* imposition of his 
hands, that she might assist her husband in the work of 
evangelizing the people of his charge. It is true, it was 
not such an ordination as usually takes place in a religious 
assembly; but a more interesting ordination has seldom 
occurred in either ancient or modern days. 0, my breth- 
ren, have an eye single to the glory of God, and then 

17 



194 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

you may expect the blessing of Heaven on your mar- 
riage ; but if you are altogether selfish in your choice 
of companions, you have no reason to expect happiness 
in the married life. 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 195 



CHAPTER VII. 

A minister should not be hasty in forming and expressing his opin- 
ions — He should admonish faithfully — He should be a modest, humble 
man, who should not be ashamed to wait on himself. 

A censorious spirit is calculated to make its possessor 
unhappy, and cause him to do serious injury to others; 
and the frequent instances of duplicity, which will be 
manifest to the man who has much intercourse with men, 
will be calculated to make him suspicious ; therefore, with 
the utmost propriety the framers of our Discipline caution 
the preachers of our order against believing evil of any 
one, without that kind and degree of evidence which will 
leave the mind without any reason to doubt. That man 
who is so credulous as to believe all the rumors which he 
may hear, prejudicial to the characters of his brethren, 
will be always in danger of doing injury to the work of 
God, by taking a stand against the innocent, who may be 
misrepresented by the tongue of slander. How unhappy 
must that minister feel, who has been made the tool of 
base design, in depressing the innocent and exalting the 
guilty, although his motives may have been pure ! Man, 
in his present state, is operated on by a great variety of 
causes, to such a degree, that he is, many times, the crea- 
ture of violent impulses and sudden excitements, for which 
great allowances should be made by us. In forming our 
estimate of men's moral characters, there are many things 
which we should know and attentively consider, that we 
may judge correctly. We should consider the peculiar 
constitutional temperament of the man, together with the 
strength and culture of his mind ; also, the manner of his 



106 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

rearing, the nature and extent of his early education, the 
modes of thinking and acting, of the persons in whose 
society circumstances may place him, the nature and 
strength of the temptations with which he may be as- 
sailed. After considering all these things, we shall see 
that many an erring man is more an object of pity than 
severe blame, and that there is much propriety in the 
direction, "Put the best construction on every thing." 
The maxim, that every man is to be presumed innocent 
till he is proved guilty, is the foundation of the other, that 
the judge is always supposed to be on the prisoner's side. 
But how many times do we see these maxims entirely for- 
gotten by preachers, whose minds seem to be biased by 
the first statements made to them by persons who first 
complain of their brethren, and the consequences are 
lamentable in the extreme ; for such preachers almost 
always violate the sixth direction given to them in the 
Discipline ! 

For a private Christian to indulge in evil -speaking is a 
crime of no small magnitude; because such a course is 
calculated to breed disturbances in neighborhoods, and 
Churches, and to make the religion of the evil-speaker 
suspected ; but for a minister of the Gospel to stoop so 
low, as to speak evil of men, is a crime beyond calculation 
or endurance. 

The sacred office of the minister is calculated to give 
him weight in the minds of the community ; and this 
weight would add a deleterious influence to his evil-speak- 
ing, which would not be attached to that of a private pro- 
fessor of religion ; therefore, he should shun the evil 
under consideration as he would shun the plague. But 
while he avoids a course of conduct destructive to the 
peace of society and his own usefulness, he should not be 
blind to the real faults and improprieties of the persons to 
whom he ministers in holy things ; for this would be cal- 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 197 

culated to make him betray his trust, by refusing to re- 
prove a brother as the Bible requires. Fidelity in telling 
our people what we think wrong in their conduct and tem- 
per, is a virtue of sterling worth, and which it is feared is 
possessed and exercised by us too little in these days, 
when flattery abounds in all classes in society to an alarm- 
ing extent. When it is considered how difficult it is to 
tell a man of his faults and not incur his present displeas- 
ure and future ill-will, it is not to be wondered at, that it 
is a great cross to a good and faithful man to do his duty 
in this thing; for much of our comfortable feelings and 
pecuniary support depend on the good-will of our people ; 
for many of them are actuated by their feelings, and not 
a conscientious discharge of duty, in their respect for and 
kindness to their ministers. But our responsibility to God 
and his cause requires a faithful discharge of this duty, 
let the consequences be as they may. That we may not 
offend by our admonitions, and consequently do no good, 
requires much knowledge of human nature, and a pru- 
dent observance of times and circumstances. To tell 
a man of his faults when he is in a hurry, or per- 
plexed, or in company, will be likely to irritate him, and 
defeat the object in view; for, instead of reforming, he 
will be more apt to continue and increase in any wrong 
that may be mentioned to him, for irritation will produce 
a degree of ambition that will be unyielding. If a minis- 
ter find the mind of a brother in a calm state, and if his 
own also be calm, and his heart full of love, he may then 
use great plainness, and not be in much danger of offend- 
ing ; and should faithfulness produce unpleasant feelings 
at the present, when the spirit and manner of him who, 
in love, tells a brother of his faults, are afterward consid- 
ered, the consequences will be favorable on the mind of a 
wise man, for he will love him who is honest in his work 
of reproving. 

17* 



198 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

A minister of the Gospel is supposed to have renounced 
this world in every sense which Christianity requires, and 
to be in possession of the meek and lowly mind by which 
his divine Master was characterized; consequently, a 
haughty appearance and magisterial manners are alto- 
gether unbecoming his profession. To see a man who 
professes to be the servant of all, appear as if he thought 
himself superior to the rest of mankind, and evince a 
great desire to be waited on by the people where he goes, 
and with whom he stays, is a sight painful to man and 
displeasing to God ; for the Bible says, a proud look is ab- 
horred by him. It is a popular opinion, that all profes- 
sional men are proud men. How far this opinion is true 
or false we need not inquire ; but let it be remembered, 
that pride and its appearance will receive much more tol- 
eration in any other profession than the clerical, because 
the Christian religion requires her ministers to be humble 
men. Affectation, or a haughty appearance, is calculated 
to do much more harm than is generally supposed; for 
the mass of men form their estimate of religion from the 
appearance and conduct of its professors, and more par- 
ticularly its ministers, who are to many the only book of 
divinity Avhich they read. If they read in ministers a 
spirit contrary to the spirit of Christianity, the conclusion 
is, that the religion of Christ is of small value, or that the 
professed teachers thereof are destitute of religion; and 
if so, men will be unwilling to yield to their persuasions 
to embrace religion; therefore, let all ministers shun all 
affectation. 

That preacher who is ashamed to wait on himself, or 
his animal, which carries him through his field of labor, 
is a proud or a lazy man, and, at the same time, a cruel 
man, Avho permits his animal to suffer, as it will do, by 
the willful neo-lect or foro-etfulness of bovs, to whose care 
it may be intrusted; and even if they were very careful, 



BEY. ALLEN WILEY. 199 

most of tliem have to work hard, and are not willing at 
all times to run and wait on the preacher and his animal, 
when it would be no more trouble to him than to them. 
Many boys, by having to wait on preachers whom they 
have supposed to be proud men, have become so soured 
in their feelings, at the ministry in general, that they have 
been seriously injured for life. Neither should the minis- 
ter be ashamed to chop the wood and make the fire in his 
own room ; for in so doing he will be taking that exercise 
which will be for the good of his mind and body, and will 
cause himself to be respected by the young people where 
he stays ; but in making his fire early in the morning, let 
him be careful not to make a noise so as to disturb all the 
persons in the house. If he will place the wood in front 
of the fire, before he lies down at night, it will be so dry 
when he rises, that he can quickly have a fire with ease, 
and without noise. By pursuing this course, he will find 
it in his power to rise early and apply himself to his 
prayers and books, without interruption to others, and to 
so great advantage, that his profiting in piety and gifts 
will be manifest to all. 



200 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER VIII. 

A minister should be a punctual man — He should observe the Disci- 
pline of the Church -without fear of punishment, and execute it without 
unkind feelings to others. 

The man who lives at random can hardly be said to 
live, bnt merely to exist; for he will accomplish but few, 
if any, of the ends of living. A survey of the Creator's 
works, whether of nature, providence, or grace, will con- 
vince us that order is Heaven's first law, and that with- 
out it we can do nothing that will please him ; for design 
or intention must be in all our acts to meet with his 
approbation. Every man, therefore, should resolve to 
avoid a random course of life, and adopt a course of pre- 
cision in all he does, in performing his multiform duties; 
and such, in a particular manner, are those of a minister 
of God and his Church. Punctuality may be understood 
in a twofold sense: first, in a full performance of a duty; 
secondly, in a performance at the proper time. A non- 
performance of duty evinces a want of moral principle, 
or so much violence done to that principle that its voice 
is hardly heard any more. But, says one, I am provi- 
dentially hindered from doing my duty. This can never 
be ; but you may be providentially hindered from doing 
what would have been your duty had not Providence 
interposed ; but such interposition relieves you from your 
obligation. But we are speaking of cases in which obli- 
gation does really exist. I will suppose you have an 
appointment to preach to-day; but the weather is unfa- 
vorable, and the ride is ten miles, and your sufferings 
will be considerable on your journey, and the probability 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 201 

ih, the congregation will be small. What a temptation 
not to go ! Now, unless you are an honest man, you 
will be apt to decline going, and will try to quiet your 
conscience in the best way you can. Let us now take 
a general view of this case. Suppose ten persons come 
to meeting, living one mile each, on an average, from the 
place of meeting. Some of them, it may be, are feeble 
women, who carry their children in their arms. Here 
you see as much, or more, suffering in these ten persons, 
in going to meeting, than you would have to suffer in 
attending your appointment. We are not done yet.* 
Your appointment is in a private house. The family 
must cease from business, and put the house in order 
for the reception of the congregation; and now all wait 
two hours in painful suspense, much to the injury of 
devotional feelings, and at last conclude the preacher will 
not come, and then resolve to go home, and that, too, 
often without any worship, as their disappointment makes 
them more peevish than prayerful. Now, the suffering is 
to be endured again which was realized in coming, making 
double what you would have had to endure ; for, gener- 
ally, you stay at the preaching-place. We are not yet 
done with this thing. Ten persons prepared themselves 
for a decent appearance at meeting, as they should do — 
went, staid, returned, and prepared again for the busi- 
ness of life, at an expense of at least four hours each, 
which, with the time lost by the family, will make, at a 
moderate computation, forty-eight hours — making four 
laboring days, worth two dollars. (Is it wrong that such 
preachers generally receive but little quarterage ?) Now, 
my brother, do you think these persons will come to hear 



°When this was written — in 1834 — we had comparatively few meeting- 
houses in country places, so that most of the week-day and some of the 
Sabbath, preaching was done in private houses. 



202 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

you again this year, if they learn that you were deterred, 
by a little unpleasantness in the weather, from attending 
your work ? If they do, it will be because they are better 
and more faithful than you have been. There is yet 
another view to take of this case. For aught you know 
to the contrary, there might be a sinner in attendance, 
for the last time that might be permitted him to hear the 
Gospel, and who might have been awakened and con- 
verted had you attended. But, alas ! he goes home, sick- 
ens, dies, and in hell lifts up his eyes to behold devils 
and lost souls for his companions, in a world of ever- 
lasting woe. And now his blood is required at your 
hand. 0, what wilt thou do, thou unfaithful minister? 
Wilt thou endeavor to soothe him in hell whom thou 
mightest have been the means of saving on earth? 
Alas ! thy own torments will not permit thee to make 
the vain attempt ; for all is upper, nether, and surround- 
ing fire, which will never be quenched or die away ; and 
all this misery of him and thee is owing to a want of 
resolution to be punctual in doing thy duty. We will 
suppose another case, which is a possible and even a 
probable one. A member of Church, that was once a 
faithful man, has declined in a diligent use of the means 
of grace till he has lost that religious enjoyment which 
he once had, and is now on the eve of entire apostasy, 
but has not yet fully resolved to leave the good way. 
He goes to meeting with a determination to come to a 
final decision, intending, unless he receive more enjoy- 
ment at this meeting, to give the struggle over. No 
preacher comes. He resolves, goes home, becomes 
wicked externally, brings a reproach on himself, his fam- 
ily, the Church, Christianity itself; dies a backslider, is 
damned; and to all these things the preacher is acces- 
sory by one neglect ; for had he gone and preached as 
he should, in all probability the man would have been 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 203 

blessed, reclaimed, and saved from the snare of the devil, 
who was leading him captive at his will. 0, how wilt 
thou answer for that member of Church who has fallen 
from grace and comes short of glory by thy neglect? I 
have taken an example from an appointment for preach- 
ing to show the dreadful consequences arising from a 
want of promptness, in the first sense in which we under- 
stood the word. Examples might have been taken from 
the neglect of any other religious duty which we have 
engaged to perform in our numerous ministerial relations. 
Yonder lies a sick man in much agitation of mind. You 
have promised to visit him; but some small difficulty 
arises, and you fail to go. He dies, and it may be in his 
sins, because you did not point him to the Lamb of God 
who died for him. Thus you are guilty of the loss of a 
soul. But I must decline presenting examples, or I shall 
never finish. Punctuality properly means doing a thing 
in the proper time. For the want of this many men who 
perform what they are bound to do fail to accomplish the 
good which they might. There are some men who seem 
to have been born an hour or two after the proper time to 
accomplish the work assigned them ; for they generally 
seem to be thus far behind their work. Has one such an 
appointment to preach at a given hour, he concludes it is 
time enough yet to prepare for a start. At length the 
time of starting has arrived ; but there are sundry little 
matters to arrange which cause delay. At last the man 
starts, finds he will be late, whips, spurs, and scolds ; but 
the roads are bad, and his animal, with all his cruelty, 
can not perform the service required in due time. Now 
he has arrived, fatigued in body, confused in mind, trou- 
bled in conscience — if he have any — and wholly unfit for 
sober, deep, solid, and powerful preaching. The congre- 
gation has waited till patience is well-nigh exhausted, 
and is as badly prepared to hear as he is to preach. One 



204 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

man is thinking about his farm, which he left with reluct- 
ance in a busy time ; another about his shop, which needs 
his presence, as his customers will want work done. One 
woman is uneasy about her babe, which she has left; 
another is concerned about a member of the family, left 
rather unwell, with a promise not to stay long. The 
man, being confused, is tedious in entering on his sub- 
ject, and the ordinary length of a sermon seems to the 
impatient hearers as if it were half a day, and they 
would rather hear him say amen than any thing else. 
At length he is done preaching ; and now he must meet 
the class — which he should do, if he had not already 
tired the people. But many of the members retire, and 
all wish to do the same ; but regard for the feeling of the 
man — who seems to have none for theirs — detains them 
to drag out a dull, insipid class meeting, which is a mock- 
ery of the institution. The man has an appointment to 
dine with brother C. D. at a given hour, and spend a 
little time in social and religious conversation and in de- 
votional exercises with the family and a few friends ; but 
unfortunately the good-natured soul has met with some 
friend on the way, who has, or appears to have, nothing 
to do. He talks, and talks; but time rolls. The dinner 
is cooked, the table set, and all things are ready; but the 
principal visitor has not yet arrived. Much anxiety pre- 
vails ; it is feared he is sick, or his family afflicted, if he 
have one. But after the dinner is well-nigh spoiled, he 
arrives full of apologies ; but these can never make his 
visit the pleasant thing which it might have been had he 
attended promptly. My brother, these are not over-col- 
ored pictures, but fall far short of the reality; but take 
them as they are, do you not feel ashamed of them in 
your sober, thinking moments ? If you do, resolve, while 
you read these lines, never to act these scenes over again 
so long as you are called a JifsthoJixt preacher. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 205 

In all you do you should remember that, as you are a 
Methodist preacher, you are bound to act in conformity 
to the rules of the Discipline without endeavoring to 
mend them, which you will find much more difficult than 
you may at first imagine ; for, as these rules are drawn 
directly from the Bible, it will be a hard undertaking to 
mend them. But many do attempt this, by construing 
them to meet their views of expediency or conveniency, 
and thereby virtually destroy the Methodist Discipline, 
which has withstood all the rude assaults of its enemies 
without sustaining any injury. Some of the rules are 
intended as a directory for yourself; and you should 
observe them, not so much from a fear of ecclesiastical 
censure or punishment, which will be the result of diso- 
bedience, as from a conviction of their excellency, which 
will have an influence on your conscience. If you keep 
the rules for fear of wrath or punishment, and not for 
conscience' sake, you will be a poor eye-servant, influ- 
enced by slavish fear, wishing merely to please men. 
But if you are conscientious in your observance of the 
rules, you will act nobly; for the glory of God and the 
good of man will be the motives by which you will be 
actuated. A part of the rules are intended for the gov- 
ernment of our people, and it is the duty of the ministers 
to see that they are observed by the people. But, in our 
endeavors to enforce the rules, we may become wrathful 
and despotic in our feeling, and be actuated more by 
human ambition than a conscientious regard for the glory 
of God and the good of the Church. Many a deed 
which was right in the abstract has been done in such 
a spirit and manner as to do irreparable injury to the 
souls of men and general interests of the Church of 
Christ. Therefore, let us take heed to our spirit and 
manner, that we may not defeat our aim in our endeavors 
to do good. 

18 



206 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTEE IX. 

Several directions in section nine, chapter one, of the Discipline, to 
which a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church should be submiss- 
ive, as he has promised so to be. 

The eleventh direction to a preacher declares, that the 
minister has nothing to do but save souls ; on which dec- 
laration the exhortations which follow it are founded. 
When it is considered that God wills all men to be saved, 
and come to the knowledge of the truth, and that he has 
called and separated an order of men from worldly pur- 
suits, that they might devote themselves to the ministry 
of the word, we shall see that our fathers, in the above 
declaration, have stated a solemn truth, that ought to 
make a lasting impression on the mind of a minister ; es- 
pecially an itinerant minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church. It must, however, be acknowledged, that such 
is the smallness of the support which traveling preachers 
receive, that duty to their families requires them to pay 
some attention to worldly matters ; but, as far as possible, 
they should be men of one work, whose care should be 
the salvation of souls, which cost the sweat, and blood, 
and life of Jesus Christ, the Savior. If the saving of 
souls is the proper work of ministers, it is evident they 
should spend their all in accomplishing the end of their 
ministerial vocation. All the energies of their minds and 
bodies, together with their time and acquirements, should 
be employed in their all-important work ; and such should 
be their earnestness in labor for souls, that they should be 
literally spent or exhausted in this glorious employ ; for 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 

although no man ought to commit suicide, yet every min- 
ister should wear out his constitution in trying to save 
souls. The whole life of a man of God is a cross-bearing 
one, in which he must do violence to the partialities of 
his friends and himself; for if he were to indulge his feel- 
ings, he would gladly go to certain congregations and 
families which are partial to him, and which are his favor- 
ites ; but his duty requires him to go to those who need 
him most. And which are the congregations and families 
that stand most in need of the particular attention of a 
minister ? Not the most intelligent, wealthy, and accom- 
plished, that would be to him the most agreeable, and that 
could make him most comfortable ; but the ignorant, the 
poor, the uncouth, whose minds are an unclosed and un- 
cultivated waste, and that will so remain, unless the hum- 
ble, faithful, orthodox preacher attend to their case; for 
infidelity, with all its boasted good-will; Unitarianism, 
with its pretended superior illumination ; Socinianism, with 
its vainglorying ; Arianism, with all its caviling at ortho- 
doxy ; and Universalism, with its pretended philanthropy, 
will never hunt up the outcasts of men and better their 
condition. No, no, my brethren, these can do no real 
good, if they would try, because they are fundamentally 
wrong; but they do not try among the classes of men 
named — therefore, unless you hunt the obscure, they will 
remain in obscurity; yea, in the valley and shadow of 
death. If to preach a given number of sermons, and take 
care of certain societies, were all he had to do, the work 
of a preacher would have its meets and bounds, for which 
a moderate degree of exertion would be sufficient; but 
i this is not the case ; for these are only a part of his work : 
I for it is his duty to bring as many souls to repentance as 
! he can, by public and private labors ; and then to build 
them up in holiness, which alone can prepare the soul to 
dwell with God and the inhabitants of heaven. 



208 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

Although a man may instruct his people, and prevail 
on them to be moral, and have the form of godliness, yet 
if they come short of holiness, or entire sanctification, 
they will fail in the final issue of obtaining the rest which 
remains for the people of God. All the moral rules in 
the Methodist Discipline are intended to have a proper in- 
fluence on the hearts as well as the lives of the members 
of Church ; and the prudential rules are admirable in con- 
ducting to the use of those which are moral ; so that we 
see the propriety of the solemn manner in which it is said 
a Methodist preacher is to observe every point, great and 
small, in the Methodist Discipline. Many of these points 
have come under our notice in the course of this work, 
and many more will be considered when we come to notice 
the duties of those who have the charge of circuits, and 
the duties of the presiding elders. 

I shall notice but one more part of this ninth section, 
and that is the twelfth direction to a preacher. In the 
time of youth, human nature is bold, and confident, and 
impatient of restraints ; but without restraint, youthful vi- 
vacity will hurry its possessor into many indiscretions; 
but if properly directed, it will accomplish much that will 
be valuable; therefore, docility is of admirable use to a 
young man; and I challenge the world to produce one 
eminently-consistent and useful man in after life, who was 
greatly headstrong in the days of his youth. Do not mis- 
understand me here; for I do not mean that a vouno- man 
should become base in his spirit, and have no mind of his 
own; but that he should not be rash and unteachable. 
When you see a child self-conceited, and insolent, and in- 
subordinate, you are sure that child will never excel. In 
like manner, when you see a young preacher who has a 
very good opinion of himself and his performances, and 
ready to treat his superiors in age and standing with con- 
tempt, you may safely say he has passed his zenith in 



EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 209 

respectability and usefulness. The time of a minister may- 
be regarded as the property of the Church ; consequently, 
it should be employed according to the will of the Church ; 
and that -will is expressed by those whom she has willingly 
received as her superintendents: consisting, first, of the 
General conference, which revises the Discipline in those 
parts which are merely prudential ; for, so far as it con- 
tains the moral discipline of the Bible, the General confer- 
ence dare not meddle; for it claims not the power to 
legislate for the Church, as it regards moral duties, but 
merely declares its understanding of these, as contained 
in the book of God. Secondly, the episcopacy and an- 
nual conferences, which may be considered as the execu- 
tive department, and which perform the will of the peo- 
ple as expressed by the General conference. I know it 
has been said our government is independent of the will 
of the people, and, of course, must be arbitrary. This is 
not the place to discuss this subject, and I will only re- 
mark, the people, by their voice, recommended the men 
who, from time to time, compose the General conference, 
or they could never have been preachers according to our 
economy. And I would further remark, that the great 
body of our people joined the Church with its present 
constitution; therefore, they can not complain with any 
consistency. There are five things named in this twelfth 
direction, of great importance, on all of which specific di- 
rections are to be found in the twelfth and thirteenth sec- 
tions of the Discipline, which should be read frequently 
by the preachers. The work in the Methodist Episcopal 
Church is divided into conferences, districts, circuits, and 
stations. The conferences are arranged by the General 
conference in session, or by delegating authority to the 
bishops in the intervals of the General conference. As 
the population of the country is fluctuating, and circum- 
stances changing, it is found better to leave the arrange- 
18* 



210 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

ment of districts, circuits, and stations wholly to the bish- 
ops, who travel through the work at large, and who do 
the best they can in this matter; but it will so happen 
that there will be great disparity in the fields of labor; 
and, consequently, if every preacher were permitted to 
choose his own field of labor, many would select the same 
district, circuit, or station, and many others would be 
without a preacher. It is, therefore, manifest, that such 
would be the confusion, if the preachers were permitted 
to choose for themselves, that itinerancy would be ended. 
Again : were the people permitted to make choice of their 
preachers, many districts, circuits, or stations would select 
the same popular preacher, so that some must be disap- 
pointed, and, in the end, the traveling plan would be de- 
stroyed, which is not desirable to preachers or people. A 
traveling ministry can only exist where the people are will- 
ing to relinquish the right of choosing their own minis- 
ters, and the preachers the right of choosing their own 
congregations. Now, as these rights are relinquished, 
voluntarily, by the preachers and people, there is nothing- 
despotic in the appointment of the preachers by the epis- 
copacy, as some of our enemies have affirmed. The bish- 
ops uniformly consult with the presiding elders, who go 
four times a year through their several districts, and 
thereby learn the wants of the people, and the talents of 
the preachers : so that information as full as can be ex- 
pected, is obtained. This information regards the wants 
and wishes of the people, and preachers. But from some 
preceding remarks, it must be obvious that all parties can 
not be accommodated as they may wish ; but the matters 
are adjusted on the grounds of equality, as far as this can 
be done in the present imperfect state of human society. 
If any brother is tempted to think he lias a hard field of 
labor, let him consider all the circumstances of the case : 
his body, mind, condition in life, contrasted or compared 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 211 

with the mind, body, family, and condition of others, and 
he will discover that some judgment was exercised in his 
appointment. Some are tempted to think hard that cer- 
tain men always have good appointments, while they are 
not so highly favored. This may be so; but why? 
Brethren, I do not wish to hurt any brother's feelings ; 
but, perhaps, if those who are disposed to complain would 
read more, pray more, preach more, and learn to be dis- 
creet in all their intercourse among the people, they too 
might have better appointments. Now, if a good man, 
with very moderate talents, were placed in a station in 
which the people greatly abound in general information, 
could he hope to retain an intelligent congregation, and 
sustain himself and the work? Surely his own judgment 
says no. Why, then, want such an appointment? I hope 
brethren will think on these things, and consider those the 
best appointments where they can be useful, and believe 
the motives are pure in those who assign them their re- 
spective fields of labor. I would advise every preacher 
to read carefully this twelfth advice, particularly the latter 
part ; and if he can not feel willing to comply with it, he 
would do well to retire quietly from the traveling connec- 
tion, and enjoy himself in local life ; where he can make 
his own appointments, when and where he may please. 
My junior brethren, I have now passed through those 
parts of our economy which more especially concern you, 
and am about turning my attention to the good of breth- 
ren who have advanced further in the work of the minis- 
try. Of one thing I am sure — for I have the evidence of 
my own consciousness — and that is, that my views and 
feeling have been upright, and that I have aimed at your 
good in all that I have written. My work has been writ- 
ten in the midst of many labors, and cares, and perplexi- 
ties, and with many temptations to desist; but a faint 
hope of doing you some good, has urged me on thus far. 



212 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

And now, shall my well-meant endeavors be lost for the 
want of application on your part? let them not be 
lost ; but strive with all your powers so to use the means 
with which you are favored on every hand, that you may 
be able and successful ministers of the new covenant. 
be not unfaithful to yourselves, the world, the Church, 
and the great Head of the Church. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 213 



CHAPTER X. 

The duties of those -who have charge of circuits. 

The duties of those who have charge of circuits will 
now claim our attention in a few succeeding chapters, in 
reading which section ten of the Discipline should be 
kept in view. When this section was drawn up, many- 
circuits, particularly in England, had three, and some- 
times more, preachers, one of whom had charge not only 
of the members of the circuit, but also of his colleagues, 
who were generally young men who greatly needed the 
parental care of a senior minister, who was expected to 
overlook their behavior and attend to all their necessities. 
At the present day, in our country, there are usually not 
more than two preachers in one circuit, one of whom is 
in charge, and the other a helper. The station of the 
senior preacher in office is one of great responsibility and 
difficulty, as he has the formation of the habits and 
modes of thinking of his colleagues in after life greatly 
under his power; for young preachers, like other young- 
persons, are prone to imitate the persons they admire ; 
and habits formed in the days of youth will be apt to 
remain in after life. From the preceding remarks we see 
the great importance of placing before a young man a 
correct model in spirit and manners, that he may not 
learn vicious or improper habits that will render him less 
useful to the Church and the world than he might have 
been if he had made a happy commencement under 
favorable circumstances. When a preacher has a young 
man appointed to labor with him he should consider him- 



214 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

self accountable to God and the conference for his help- 
er's conduct, and should use all the means in his power 
to render him useful. His own conduct should be so 
entirely in accordance with the Bible and the Methodist 
Discipline, that he may say without boasting, but in 
humble confidence, follow me as I also follow Christ. 
He should also use all the prudence in his power to gain 
the entire confidence and warm affection of the young 
man, that his admonitions may be well received, and 
have their proper weight and influence. A sensible and 
pious young man will receive, in a friendly manner, the 
admonitions and reproofs of his senior, if it is evident 
that they proceed from an ardent wish to do him good ; 
but the conceited and self-willed will regard the faithful 
admonisher as an enemy who is actuated by bad feelings 
toward him, in consequence of which efforts are made to 
keep him down. If a young preacher be very zealous 
and have some readiness of utterance, the mass of the 
people will make allowance for his defects, considering 
his want of opportunity, and they will admire him, and 
many of them will not have discretion to conceal their 
admiration from him; and the consequence will be, in 
many cases, he will become vain, forward, and impe- 
rious, so as greatly to grieve the more judicious, whose 
society will be shunned and instructions rejected by him, 
and he will seek that kind of society which will praise 
and flatter him. When such a case as this occurs, the 
preacher in charge will need all the wisdom, prudence, 
and grace that he can possess and exercise ; for if he 
caution the people against spoiling the young man by 
flattery and him against being spoiled thereby, his mo- 
tives will be liable to improper construction ; for the man 
and his flatterers will be ready to conclude that his cau- 
tions have their foundation in jealousy and envy, and, 
therefore, will be disregarded, and himself made the sub- 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 215 

ject of animadversion. Now, let him pursue such a judi- 
cious course as will convince the youth that he is not so 
wise and weighty as he and his injudicious friends fondly 
imagine ; and this may frequently be done by a close 
examination into his religious experience and sundry im- 
portant branches of knowledge ; for by such a course he 
will be led to know more of himself and his great defi- 
ciencies, so that he will be humbled, and thereby be pre- 
vented from falling into the condemnation of the devil, 
of which there was great danger. Sometimes a young 
man is not very buoyant in his feelings, and is rather 
inclined to surmise things unfavorable to himself and to 
speak diminutively of himself and his performances in 
such a way as is calculated to disgust many, by making 
them believe he is courting praise. If he be really de- 
pressed in spirit his superior ought to encourage him in a 
proper manner, but at the same time caution him against 
such an injudicious course as will bring him into con- 
tempt with the people; for although some will sympa- 
thize with him, most will despise the man who is always 
running himself down; and, indeed, he deserves to be 
lightly esteemed ; for he should never voluntarily occupy 
a station for which he is not, in some tolerable degree, 
prepared. The preacher in charge should not make it 
his business to hunt for the indiscretions of his helper; 
but when he either sees them or hears of them from good 
authority, he should never connive at them, but do his 
duty in the name and fear of God ; for many young men 
are indiscreet for the want of better information, which 
ought to be given them by that man whose duty it is 
made by the Church to give it. 

Although the duty we now have under consideration is 
a painfully-delicate one, yet let it be remembered that it 
is one which is to have an influence on the welfare of 
thousands yet unborn; for every man, to some extent, 



216 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

lives for posterity, but especially the minister of the 
Gospel, whose conduct will be acted over, from imita- 
tion, by his successors, when he is dead and generally 
forgotten. It should always be remembered that the 
young man, who is now a junior preacher and who needs 
so much care, will, in a few years, be a senior and have 
young men under his care, as he is now under the care 
of another; and if he now be neglected and take an im- 
proper direction, he will neglect others, who, in their 
turn, will also take an improper direction: and thus the 
neglect of one man may be the means of doing the 
Church incalculable injury in her ministry, and, conse- 
quently, in her membership, for years and ages to come. 
There seems to be great fitness in our economy ; for as 
the junior preachers are expected to submit to the reason- 
able dictation of their superiors in office, it becomes the 
reasonable duty of the superiors to see that their young 
brethren want for nothing ; and he who stands in imme- 
diate pastoral relation to the stewards, leaders, and mem- 
bers of the Church is supposed to have the best opportu- 
nity to influence them to supply the want of his helpers. 
It would appear very unbecoming in a young man who 
has not been long in the work to say much about his sup- 
port, as his motives for traveling would be suspected ; for 
there are some people in the Church, and many out of it, 
who will insinuate, and sometimes say, we are after gain, 
notwithstanding the very limited supplies which Method- 
ist traveling preachers generally receive. The wants of a 
single man are not generally numerous ; for if he can 
comfortably clothe himself and procure the books that are 
necessary to help him on in his pursuit of knowledge, 
and keep up all things requisite for traveling, he is gen- 
erally contented. But all men of sense know that he 
ought to be able to lay by him something for the wants of 
coming life ; for our holy religion does not require celib- 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 217 

acy in the ministry, any more than in the membership of 
the Church ; therefore, he may be expected to marry at a 
suitable time — I would that none did otherwise — when his 
wants will be greatly increased, and he ought to have the 
means of meeting them. 

Many of our preachers are men with young, but rising 
families, whose wants are greater than the people gener- 
ally suppose ; for that family which moves from place to 
place, year after year, must sustain losses and undergo 
privations unknown to the people in general ; but which 
are well understood by the man who has been long in the 
work, and who is prepared to present the necessities of 
his brethren to those who have the means, in sufficient 
abundance, to supply the wants of their preachers and not 
realize any diminution of their own comfortable support. 
To a man of great sensibility, it is mortifying to be under 
the necessity of proclaiming his own wants ; and which he 
need not do, if he have a noble-minded and loving supe- 
rior. But while I consider it the duty of those who have 
charge of circuits, to see that their young brethren want 
for nothing, I regard it their duty, only when the young- 
are teachable, obedient, and industrious; for if they are 
captious, insubordinate, and indolent, I consider their 
superiors released from the obligation that they would 
have been under ; for duties are reciprocal. Should the 
preacher in charge strive to raise supplies for an unfaith- 
ful colleague, he will find himself crippled in his efforts, 
for he will be met by the complaints of the people, who 
will justly conclude that his claims are very small, who 
has not done his work. If the preacher's family manifest 
a great desire to be indulged, and waited on, and then be 
ungrateful — as most persons who want waiting on are — I 
pity the man who interests himself in their behalf; for he 
will hear doleful and well-founded complaints. The peo- 
ple should never consider the families of their preachers 

19 



218 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

as undeserving their attention ; neither should the families 
of preachers think themselves more deserving, merely be- 
cause they are the families of preachers. A word to the 
wise is sufficient. But you may bray certain characters 
in a mortar and they will remain as they are, only they 
will be so bruised as to make them suffer for a season. 



. 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 219 



CHAPTER XI. 

Duties of those who have charge of circuits — The distribution and re- 
newal of the tickets — Advantages of — Band meetings — The importance of 
circuit stewards, and the manner in which the preacher should treat them 
and the leaders. 

Probably there never lived a more systematic or me- 
thodical man than Mr. Wesley ; but his plans of operation 
were not the result of previously- devised and politic 
schemes, but they arose from his following the Bible, and 
the openings of Providence, which he always acknowl- 
edged as his guides through life ; and the consequences of 
his plans will show that he did not materially misinterpret 
the instructions which he received. When he had been 
led to imitate, in spirit, the primitive and some modern 
Churches, in holding love-feasts, he saw such was the pe- 
culiarity and sacredness of the exercises which took place, 
that it would be utterly improper to admit the giddy mul- 
titude, indiscriminately, into love feast; therefore, some 
means were wanting to distinguish the precious from the 
vile. This might be done, in some measure, by placing 
proper persons at the door, to converse with the persons 
making application for admittance ; but all must see that 
many inconveniences must attend this plan, as it would 
be much labor to the keepers of the door to converse with 
all who were strangers to them ; and after conversing in a 
necessarily-hurried manner, with the hundreds that might 
apply for admittance, they would be imposed on. To ob- 
viate those difficulties, the plan was adopted of giving to 
each approved member of society a ticket, consisting of a 



220 LIFE AND TIDIES OF 

small piece of paper with an important text of Scripture 
printed on it, which entitled the bearer to go into love- 
feast without any questions. But disorderly and disowned 
members might retain their tickets, by which they might 
impose on the members and societies where they were 
strangers; to prevent which, it was found necessary to 
renew or give other tickets quarterly. The tickets being 
numbered, first, second, third, and fourth quarter, pre- 
vented all imposition, as tickets were given to none but 
approved members of society. The renewing the tickets 
accomplished other valuable ends ; for the round when 
the tickets were to be given out, would be the most im- 
portant round for that quarter ; consequently, there would 
be a more general attendance of the members, which 
would give the preacher an opportunity of conversing 
more pointedly with all the members concerning the state 
of their souls on the eve of a love-feast. In the circuits 
money is collected once a quarter for the support of the 
traveling preachers — therefore, the round for giving out 
the tickets would be a good time to collect quarterage. 
To me it has been a great grief, for many years, that the 
giving of tickets has been so little attended to in the cir- 
cuits in the western conferences ; and I firmly believe we 
shall never do as well in the regular administration of Dis- 
cipline, and in our financial matters, as we might do, till 
we revive the ancient custom of renewing the tickets quar- 
terly. Many of the preachers and people do nothing me- 
thodically; and anything that would give them a habit 
of being methodical would be of incalculable advantage 
to the Church and the interests of religion in general ; for 
religion does not advance when things are done at random. 
A revival of this practice would diminish the numbers of 
delinquent members who seldom go to class meeting ; and 
let it once be generally known, that regular quarterly 
tickets are necessary to give evidence of approved stand- 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 221 

ing in the Church, then the members will be anxious to 
receive and preserve their tickets. 

Were the practice of renewing the tickets properly un- 
derstood and attended to, it would increase the support of 
the preachers at least fifty per centum, in many circuits ; 
for if the members become desirous of receiving their 
tickets as they would do, and if it were known that al- 
though a ticket would not be withheld for the want of 
money, yet all who are in circumstances to pay quarter- 
age when the tickets are received, are expected to do so, 
the present embarrassments, which drive many from the 
work, would measurably be removed, and many valuable 
men would continue to travel who are now driven from 
the work by poverty, bordering on starvation, or that 
which is worse, compelling them to neglect the education 
of their children. I am willing to acknowledge, that the 
consequences which I have named would not be realized 
immediately, because our people would not see the pro- 
priety and utility of the plan till time would show it. If 
you want evidence of the truth of what I say, you can 
have it by learning from our brethren from England how 
much tickets are prized in their country.* There have 
been a few attempts to revive the rule, which has done no 
good, either for want of judgment in the persons making 
the effort, or because they were not countenanced by their 
brethren in the ministry generally; but these failures 
should not discourage us, but lead to a simultaneous exer- 
tion in all the western country. Band meetings, so far as 
my personal knowledge extends, are wholly neglected in 
this part of our work; and whether it would be advan- 
tageous in the present state of mixed society in the west 

° When, this was written very few of the preachers on the circuits were 
in the habit of distributing tickets, but since then the practice has been 
revived and the good effects mentioned have been realized. All that is 
now wanting is to hold on and keep up the practice. 
19* 



222 LIFE AND TIMES OE 

to revive them, I know not, and indeed I stand in donbt. 
That they have been a great blessing- to many sincere 
souls I believe, but I fear the Church is not prepared for 
them in this day and in this country ; but I wish to touch 
this theme lightly. But so long as the General conference 
make the band rules a part of the Discipline, and the sec- 
ond answer, on which I am writing, stands in its present 
form, and direction the fifth remains a part of the dut} T of 
those in charge of circuits, to be consistent, we ought to 
attend to the band societies. But what shall I say? I 
know not. As an individual, I would be willing the band 
rules were no part of the Discipline; all their moral rules 
are in other parts of our rules of Discipline, and what is 
prudential in them might be found in Mr. Wesley's works; 
and those who approve of them, would be at liberty to 
conform to them. To me it is painful to see any part of 
our excellent economy a dead letter, as this is, because 
the principle is dangerous; for if one part may be neg- 
lected with impunity, why not another? I am well con- 
vinced that the band rules should be stricken out of the 
Discipline, or we should strictly attend to them, and put 
all the believers into bands, and regulate them according 
to the rules. Which will we do ? ask the General confer- 
ence to expunge them ? or neglect them as heretofore ? or 
unite as one man and revive band societies ? At the pres- 
ent we are all guilty, and likely so to remain, for I see no 
prospect of a revival of band meetings. Were there 
union in effort, this part of our economy might be revived, 
and with it, probably, a deeper work of grace in the hearts 
of our people. 

The stewards of our Church are an order of men of 
much more importance than is generally supposed. Let 
any man turn to the second part, and section third of the 
Discipline, and consider attentively the qualifications and 
duties of circuit stewards, and h« will see that attention 






REV. ALLEN WILEY. 223 

to mere money matters, is a small part of their duties. 
The importance of the leadership I shall consider when I 
come to the fourth answer. In stations there is a stew- 
ard's and leader's meeting, which is to be met once a week 
by the preacher ; but this is not the case in the circuits, 
and it is to be feared the preachers do not pay that atten- 
tion to the stewards which they ought. That preacher 
who wants that aid from the stewards in temporal and 
spiritual things which he needs, must meet them often. 

Many stewards seldom or never read what is required 
of them in the Discipline, or they would either resign 
their office or be more faithful in the discharge of its 
duties. But were all, who feel like shrinking from re- 
sponsibility, to resign, we would soon have no stewards; 
therefore, they need much counsel and encouragement, 
and with these they will prove valuable auxiliaries to the 
preacher, in his difficult but needful labors. If the preach- 
ers had respect only to the good things of this life, they 
ought to keep up a good understanding and friendly inter- 
course between themselves and the stewards; for good 
feelings on the part of the stewards toward the preacher 
of their circuit, would incline them to exert themselves to 
make the jn'eacher comfortable, and his family, if he have 
one. But a conscientious preacher will have much more 
anxiety to derive aid from the stewards in carrying on a 
work of religion, than in temporal support. 0, when will 
our stewards be convinced that they are not mere servants 
of tables ? When the preachers take pains to meet them 
as often as possible, in a friendly and religious manner, 
and explain to them their duties, and exhort them earn- 
estly to a full performance of the same. Chapter second, 
and section second, and answer first, shows that it is the 
duty of the preacher to meet the leaders at least once a 
quarter, for the purpose of a regular official examination ; 
but a mere official performance of duty ought not to satisfy 



224 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

a zealous preacher, who is anxious to do all the good in 
his power. He will endeavor frequently to spend a little 
time in a friendly, social, and religious manner, with the 
class-leaders, that he may encourage them to a faithful 
discharge of their most perplexing and difficult duties. 
On examination it will be found, that the man who takes 
most pains to cultivate a spirit of cordial union between 
himself and the official members of the circuit, in which 
he labors, almost always has good times, because he does 
not labor alone ; while he who moves on in a cool reserv- 
edness, without any apparent wish to gain the aid of his 
brethren, has dull and discouraging times, notwithstand- 
ing he may be a talented and zealous man in the dis- 
charge of his public ministerial labors. If it be manifest 
to the stewards and leaders that their aid is gladly received 
by their pastor, they will take encouragement and greatly 
extend their sphere of usefulness; when, if they think 
their services are received with cold indifference, they will 
be discouraged and their energies paralyzed. But the evil 
will not end here, for the feelino-s of discouragement 
which press them down, will extend to the membership 
of the Church, and all zealous effort for a revival of re- 
ligion will cease entirely, and the circuit will decline in- 
stead of improve. Now, I would ask how any man can 
answer to his Master, who, by a little indifference or neg- 
lect, permits the Church to be languid and destitute of 
influence, when she might be the means of saving hun- 
dreds of souls, for whom Christ died, but who will be 
lost through the unfaithfulness of the preacher ! 0, my 
brother, think on these things and rouse thyself to duty, 
that thou mayest be a blessing to hundreds in and out of 
the Church. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 225 



CHAPTEK XII. 

The preacher's duty to appoint, remove, change, and instruct class- 
leaders. 

Jesus Christ is the Shepherd and Bishop of the 
Church, which consists of all the souls that are in a 
state of gracious acceptance with God, or who are earn- 
estly seeking to be accepted with him. Christ walks in 
the midst of the golden candlesticks, which emblematic- 
ally represent the individual Churches of which the 
general Church is composed. But his inspection is un- 
perceived by sense, as he is invisible. Our nature and 
condition are such that we need a visible guide in the 
way of truth. Therefore, he has ordained a living, vis- 
ible ministry, to teach and direct the Church in subserv- 
iency to his will. Consequently, every pastor of a branch 
of Christ's Church should remember that he is acting, in 
some degree, as the representative of his Master, and 
that he is bound to do the work of his Master. If the 
preceding view be correct — and that it is I think none 
will deny who believe the Bible — it will follow that there 
is an inconceivably-great responsibility resting on every 
minister to whom is committed a body of men constituted 
into a branch of Christ's Church. The Savior, in his 
parabolic manner of teaching, informs us that a good 
shepherd is so intimately acquainted with his flock, that 
he can designate each member thereof by its appropriate 
name, which implies a special knowledge of the condition 
of each individual under his care. The plan of itinerant 
ministerial service in the Methodist Episcopal Church will 
not admit of that intimate, personal oversight which the 



226 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

wants of the people require. Therefore, the minister 
must substitute such means as will enable him to acquit 
his conscience in the discharge of duty ; and this is done 
by appointing the class-leaders. It will be perceived that 
I consider class-leaders in the light of deputized ministers 
who are to perform, in the absence of ministers, that serv- 
ice which they would perform personally if they were 
present. If the view taken of this matter be a correct 
one, it will follow that the clamor raised against us on 
account of this arrangement in our Discipline, is wholly 
without foundation. We never hear any complaint 
against the clerk of the court or sheriff of the county 
for choosing his own deputy ; for every man knows the 
clerk or sheriff is accountable for the performance of the 
duties of his office. Just so, in this case, the minister is 
accountable for the souls committed to his care, as many 
passages in the Bible declare. Therefore, he ought to 
have the choice of the men to whom he confides an im- 
portant part of his ministerial watch-care. If the leaders 
be the minister's substitutes, it will follow that the ap- 
pointing and removing power ought to be with him ; for 
how can he confide his awfully- responsible duties to men 
in whom he can not confide? And if he find he has 
been mistaken in his confidence, how can he continue men 
as his substitute who can not or will not do his duties? 
It is believed that no man can fairly answer these ques- 
tions without admitting the propriety of our Discipline in 
the provision made for appointing and changing leaders. 
But it may be said the preacher has the power to force on 
the class an obnoxious leader or of forcibly removing 
from office one that may be well approved of by his 
brethren. I know that this is the fact. He has the 
power, also, to burn down your house, to get drunk, to 
steal, to swear, to murder ; but will a sensible and pious 
man do any of these things ? No. Then why apprehend 






EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 227 

he will act as if beside himself in other cases? For he 
well knows that were he to appoint a leader that is not 
respected by the class, he would be worse than useless ; 
and, also, if the man has grace and sense sufficient to 
be a class-leader he would not accept the appointment 
against the will of his brethren. He must be deranged 
in feeling or judgment who would remove a good, accept- 
able, and useful leader against the wish of the class and 
appoint another who is not, in all respects, his equal or 
superior; and if the preacher be thus deranged, he will 
not long remain an itinerant among us. Preachers in the 
exercise of the appointing power ought to be discreet men 
and do nothing in an overbearing manner; for although 
the preacher may have confidence in the man of his own 
choice, yet the feelings of his brethren are to be regarded ; 
for unless they are treated with respect, prejudices will be 
excited that will destroy the usefulness of the preacher 
himself. 

But why not let the people choose their own leader in 
a popular election? This question has been partly an- 
swered already, by showing that the leader is a deputized 
minister, who ought to be appointed by him whose place 
he is to fill and whose duties he is to perform. I would 
further remark that popular elections can never exist 
without their adjuncts — a warm spirit of competition and 
electioneering management — which would soon destroy 
the peace and harmony of religious society. But, says 
one, we have popular elections in the political world 
without destroying the integrity of the nation or the 
state. So we have. But how would you be pleased 
to see the candidates and their friends go to class meet- 
ing, a love-feast, the sacrament table, on the eve and 
subsequent to a general election? 0, but they are not 
religious people ! Many of them are not ; but some are ; 
and they will tell you that they often lose ground in 



228 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

religious feeling about the time of elections ; for it is hard 
to be calm in the midst of a tornado of political excite- 
ment, and if popular ecclesiastical elections were to be- 
come numerous, religious people, who are members of 
Church, would have a double share of exciting causes, 
which would soon banish the love of God and the breth- 
ren from the Church. Well, but in the Church there is 
nothing of interest at stake ; therefore, there would not 
be the same warmth. But honor, or supposed honor, 
will produce more excitement than interest; for many 
men spend more money in an electioneering campaign 
than they afterward receive for their services. Now, let 
two men be proposed to the class for the leadership, and, 
although they might not have desired the office hereto- 
fore, yet each will think himself degraded if he should 
fail in his election, and, consequently, he will become 
desirous of success. But this is not the worst. The 
special friends of each will contrast their defects and 
excellences, so as to produce unpleasant feelings, and 
in the end the fellowship of the class would be destroyed- 
A prudent man will be able, in most cases, to find out 
and accommodate the feelings of a class without jeopard- 
izing the peace and safety of society, as a popular elec- 
tion would do. If he find a class-leader defective in 
some things, who is in most things acceptable and useful, 
he should endeavor to cure his defects rather than pro- 
duce excitement by a hasty removal, which may be an 
injury to the leader and society both; for notwithstanding- 
many leaders would be glad to be released, and the 
classes willing for a change, yet they are unwilling for 
things to be done in a hurried and stern manner. 

If the position which I have taken be correct, that the 
leader is the minister by proxy, it will follow that the 
minister should take much pains to give the leader such 
friendly directions as will enable him to discharge the 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 229 

duties pertaining to his office. Hence the propriety of 
what was said, in the preceding chapter, on the frequent 
meeting of the leaders by those who have charge of cir- 
cuits. There are grounds to fear that great remissness 
abounds in the ministry in this particular. The want of 
aged and experienced preachers compels the superintend- 
ents to place young men in charge of circuits, who feel a 
delicacy in conversing with aged and experienced class- 
leaders concerning those duties which they are supposed 
to understand better than the young man himself; and 
thus, through modesty, a habit of neglecting this duty is 
formed in early life, which is too often pursued as long as 
the preacher lives. 

I hope that modesty, amiable as it is, will not cause 
you, my brethren, to form a bad habit; and remember 
that a sensible class-leader, who knows your timidity, 
but who also knows your duty, will gladly converse with 
you concerning his method of meeting class ; and if you 
can not teach him much, you may learn many valuable 
things from him. Use every exertion in your power to 
have a good leadership in your circuits, and you will 
have comparatively few Church trials, and your societies 
will not languish under your ministry. Take up your 
Discipline, turn to the section on class meetings, read it 
over and over, study its contents, and then resolve that 
you will practice all the directions contained in it on the 
subject on which I have written in this chapter, and 
which you are now reading, that you may have the tes- 
timony of a good conscience that you, as a Methodist 
preacher in charge of a circuit, are daily discharging 
those duties which you have solemnly promised to per- 
form. Sorry shall I be if you neglect your duties, after 
they have been presented so specifically as has been at- 
tempted in these humble but, I trust, plain chapters. 
Try, my brethren, to be more faithful than we, your 
20 



230 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

predecessors have been, that } T ou may be more useful 
than we ; for we must decrease ; but you may increase. 
Will you do so ? The Lord help you ! 






REV. ALLEN WILEY. 231 



CHAPTER XIII. 

The duties of the preacher in the reception of members. 

The relation existing between a minister and his people, 
is an intimate and an endearing one ; being the relation of 
a father and his own or adopted children; in our day 
mostly the latter, but in the primitive Church the former. 
In the order of Providence, and the economy of grace, 
the ministry was prior to the membership of the Church ; 
and had there been no ministry, there would never have 
been a Church, unless God had operated contrary to his 
usual plan, which is to accomplish his work by instru- 
ments. When, therefore, the first preachers went forth 
to preach the Gospel, they presented themselves as pas- 
tors, who were ready to receive under their care such 
persons as were willing to comply with the terms of mem- 
bership which they proposed. They held themselves 
measurably accountable for the welfare of all who placed 
themselves under their watch-care. But it would not be 
supposed, that they would be willing to be accountable for 
the refractory, who would not submit to that moral dis- 
cipline which was adopted for the welfare of the whole 
flock. From the preceding views, it must be obvious to 
all, that the power of receiving and disowning Church 
members naturally belongs to the ministry ; and were the 
ministry as intelligent and upright as it ought to be, there 
would be no danger of an abuse of authority. But such 
is the want of a knowledge of men and things, and of 
integrity in some that pertain to the ministry, that the 
safety of the Church requires a restriction of the authority 



232 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

naturally belonging to them. According to the constitu- 
tion of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the right of re- 
ceiving and excluding members belongs exclusively to the 
preacher in charge ; but this right is so guarded by the 
Discipline, that the safety of the Church is secured against 
any long-continued abuse of power, by any of her minis- 
try. The first danger to which the Church is liable, is 
that of having improper members imposed on her by a 
preacher that may be overzealous in proselyting ; the 
second, of having worthy members disowned by the 
caprice of the preacher, who may be constitutionally arbi- 
trary, and who may imbibe, and be governed by his preju- 
dices and passions ; for such men may, occasionally, creep 
into the ministry, and others may become such by their 
inward backslidings, which will sour their tempers so as 
to make them peevish and overbearing. If the Methodist 
preachers observe the Discipline of their own Church, 
which they have promised to do, both the dangers named 
will be entirely avoided. The first thing to be done in 
the admission of members, is to present the applicant with 
a note, stating that the bearer is admitted as a probationer 
for membership in the Church ; which note entitles the 
bearer to all the means of grace, but not to any official 
act or station in the Church. But even this incipient 
process is strictly guarded ; for the preacher dare not give 
this note unless the applicant for Church privileges is rec- 
ommended by some person known to the preacher, or till 
meeting three or four times in class, so as to give the 
preacher and members an opportunity of judging of the 
sincerity and real awakenings of the person. The preacher 
is also required to read the General Rules to the appli- 
cant, on his offering to attach himself to the societv. that 
he may know what manner of life he is expected to lead, 
if he come under our watch-care ; and if he be unwilling 
to be so strict, as some call the requisition of our General 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 233 

Rules, he can decline at once.* This giving of notes 
properly belongs to the preacher in charge ; but, as a mat- 
ter of courtesy, and from custom, the junior preacher fre- 
quently receives persons on trial; but even then the 
preacher in charge is responsible, as the junior acts by a 
delegated authority, and his doing may be overruled by 
his senior, if improper persons are admitted to the privi- 
leges of the Church. The preacher is required to give 
tickets once a quarter to all persons of approved standing, 
as members of Church, but not to a probationer ; who is, 
m reality, not a member, but only a candidate for mem- 
bership in the Church, whose means of grace he has been 
permitted to enjoy, that he might obtain that state in grace 
which would make him a worthy member. (Query — 
ought any man to be received into full membership, who 
does not profess religion ?) After six months have elapsed, 
from the date of the note of admission, the preacher 
should inquire into the experience, views, and wishes of 
the probationer, so as to ascertain whether he be a suita- 
ble person to be admitted to full membership, and whether 
it be his wish to be so admitted ; and notwithstanding the 
preacher may be satisfied, in his own mind, from the ex- 
amination had, yet his power is restricted; for he must 
not give a ticket, which is evidence of full membership, 
unless the leader, with whom the probationer has met at 
least six months, recommend him; and as many country 
classes are scattered over extensive sections of country, it 
may be some of the members may know some objections 
to his admission, unknown to the leader; therefore, as a 
matter of prudent caution, it would be well to ask openly 
in the class, if there are any objections, and if there be 

° When this was "written the Discipline required a note to be given, but 

in later editions this requisition is left out ; but the very nature of the 

case shows the propriety of giving a note. Now the Discipline requires 

the strange applicant to meet two or three times instead of three or four. 

20* 



234 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

none, and the leader recommend, the preacher may an- 
nounce him a member, and give him a ticket, at the time 
of renewing the tickets.* It may sometimes happen that 
there are objections to a probationer, in which case, if 
there be no prospect of reforming and saving the person, 
the preacher should discontinue him as a probationer ; but 
if there be ground for a reasonable hope that he may be 
saved, let him still be continued on trial ; for the expres- 
sion, "at least six months on trial," implies, that he may 
be kept till all parties are satisfied. The prudent framers 
of our Discipline have done yet more to prevent all im- 
position; for they require the preacher in charge to 
read at the quarterly meeting the names of all persons, 
who, during the last quarter, may have become members 
in full standing. The object of this thing is, that the 
persons may be introduced to the whole circuit, as per- 
sons worthy of fellowship ; and as there are usually per- 
sons present at quarterly meetings from all parts of 
the circuit, the standing of those admitted becomes e;en- 
erally known. The reading the names usually takes 
place at the end of love-feast, when the members are 
much cheered, and in a state to rejoice on hearing that 
the Church is increasing in members, who have given 
evidence of firmness, by having passed through the ordeal 
prescribed for their regular admission into that branch of 
Christ's Church, of which they have become members. 
Now, who does not see that the preceding course, if 
strictly attended to, will save the Church from all imposi- 
tion ; and to me it is mysterious, how any conscientious 
Methodist preacher can neglect it, as it is so clearly laid 
down in the Discipline, which he has promised to observe, 

° The course here recommended was made law by the General confer- 
ence of 1840. Now none can be admitted into full connection till they 
have been baptized, and give satisfaction, before the Church, concerning 
their faith and willingness to keep the rules of the Church. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 235 

and which he can never neglect, without being an incon- 
sistent man, who disregards his vows solemnly made. In 
order that the preacher may attend to his duty in this 
orderly way, he should keep a book, in which should be 
entered the names of all persons to whom he gave notes, 
with the dates when such notes were given ; and when he 
prepares to leave his circuit, and give his successor an ac- 
count of the circuit, a list containing the names of all 
persons on trial, should be drawn up, giving the names 
of the several preaching-places, where there are proba- 
tioners, together with the dates of their joining on trial, 
that their cases may be attended to in proper order and 
time. When any person on trial moves from one circuit 
to another, a certificate of the real standing of the proba- 
tioner may be given, by which means, all persons seeking 
membership in our Church, can be dealt with in the same 
manner, as the same practice in the Church should obtain 
in all our connection. Some preachers complain that they 
have not time to attend to all these matters in detail ; but 
who are they that thus complain ? Generally, the lovers 
of their bed, and tobacco ; the laughing, the talkative ; in 
a word, those that have time for almost every thing but 
their duty. 

Some say they can see no good to be accomplished by 
so much precision ; and thus set up their own judgment 
in opposition to the General conference, which has said 
that members shall be received according to the routine 
presented in the present chapter. If no other good were 
accomplished, as I said in another place, it will accustom 
the preacher to habits of doing business in a proper man- 
ner, which would be of great service to him and the 
Church ; for the people are often tempted to think, if the 
preacher can get their names on the class papers, they 
have accomplished all that was aimed at; and, indeed, 
the loose manner in which we often attend to the regular 



236 



LIFE AND TIMES OF 



reception of members, is calculated to strengthen their 
temptation; but let all the preachers attend to this thing 
as it should be done, and our people will see that we wish 
to methodize them in reality, and they will regard us as 
careful pastors. Other denominations have frequently 
made complaints against us, for the hurried manner in 
which we introduce — as they suppose — irreligious persons 
into our Church ; but notwithstanding many of them may 
be sincere in thinking we are wrong in our operations, 
their opinion is founded in ignorance of our economy, 
which they have not examined for themselves. When 
they see us taking names at camp meetings, and other 
popular meetings, they suppose that all these are enrolled 
in our Church books as regular members ; whereas, they 
are not admitted even to a state of trial, but regarded as 
applicants for such a state, whose cases are attended to 
by the proper officer, when he comes round in their re- 
spective neighborhoods. My brethren, although we are 
not bound to do our business in such a way as to court 
the good-will and approbation of other denominations, 
yet we are bound to remove every cause of evil surmising 
from all men, so far as we can, that our good may not be 
evil spoken of. If we strictly observe the landmarks of 
Methodism., as laid down in the Discipline of the Church, 
Ave defy the world to produce a Church that uses as much 
caution in the reception of members as we do.* But 
alas ! alas ! how do we neglect our own prudent economy, 
and thereby bring ourselves into reproach with others, 
who may say the Methodist preachers are very unmethod- 
ical in doing their business, in the reception of members. 
My brethren, shall we remain a reproach to the Church, 
by our careless habits of doing our duty? 0, let it not 

Since this was written there has been a very great improvement in the 
manner of receiving members into Chnreh. and in many other parts of 
our work ; and it is to he hoped we will still improve in our doings. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 237 

be, but, one and all, let us arise and be Methodist preach- 
ers, and pastors of the most numerous Protestant flock in 
the Avorld ! 



238 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XIV. 

The duties of the preacher in expelling members from the Church. 

In the preceding chapter I endeavored to show that 
the right of receiving members into and excluding them 
from the Church naturally belongs to the minister, who 
is accountable to the Head of the Church for the persons 
committed to his care; and that if the ministry were 
sufficiently wise and holy, there would be no danger to 
the Church, or any member thereof, from an injudicious 
exercise of power. It was, however, stated that the pres- 
ent imperfect state of the ministry requires checks upon 
its power, that the rights of all may be guarded. The 
manner in which the Church has been secured from the 
introduction of improper members has been considered, 
and we will now see how the members are secured from 
improper expulsions. Our form of trial is very similar to 
that of a court of law in criminal cases; for the preacher 
is the judge, the society, or select number thereof, the 
jury, the complainant the prosecutor, and the Bible the 
statute-book. In the first place, the accused member 
should be presented with a written exhibition of the 
charp;es ao-ainst him, stating the time or times when, 
the place or places where they were committed. The 
preacher should then give him notice of the time and 
place of trial, allowing him sufficient opportunity to pre- 
pare for his defense. In the section organizing a dele- 
gated General conference, it is stated that the General 
conference shall not do away the right of our members 
of trial before the society or by a committee — from which 
I infer that, in ordinary cases, the accused should have 






REV. ALLEN WILEY. 239 

the privilege of choosing whether he will be tried by the 
whole society or a select number. But to this privilege I 
think there may be good and valid objections in many 
cases, because it would give a captious man the power 
of evading a trial altogether, or nearly so. In some 
stations the members amount to a thousand, and it would 
be unreasonable, if not impossible, to convene them to 
try a member. If the preacher were to summons old 
men and matrons, young men and maidens — all of whom 
constitute the society — for the purpose of trying him, he 
would refuse to come to trial unless the majority, at least, 
attended, which it is not likely they would do in a busy 
city; and should they attend, how would such a multi- 
tude, unacquainted with such business, enter into a crit- 
ical investigation of a difficult case, which often perplexes 
the best judges of right and wrong, to decide satisfacto- 
rily to their own minds ? All that a reasonable man 
would desire, when called to answer for his conduct, 
would be the privilege of objecting to men manifestly 
prejudiced against him, or who had formed or expressed 
an opinion unfavorable to his case ; and a prudent 
preacher would decline placing such in the number to 
try him; and if the preacher were headstrong or perti- 
nacious, discreet men, who were objected to, would de- 
cline acting in the case. The societies in country places 
are sometimes small, and if a man be contrary, and 
refuse to be tried by the whole society, and then objects 
to the persons chosen by the preacher to try him, he 
might evade a trial entirely, if the preacher have no dis- 
cretionary power of determining, in these difficult cases, 
whether the man shall be tried by the society or a select 
number. Some preachers are in the habit of selecting 
persons from neighboring societies to try members of 
another society, which would be a very good course, in 
many cases, were it not for the dangerous consequences 



240 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

"which it involves ; for it would give a preacher of strong 
prejudices the power of expelling, for a season, at least, 
almost any man with whom he might become displeased, 
by selecting such men as he could sway, to subserve his 
purpose.* It may be said that a society may be so par- 
tial to, or so prejudiced against, an accused member that 
justice will not be done. This I believe to be the fact, in 
many instances; and if the society trial were final, it 
would be a desperate state of things ; for a wicked man 
might continue to enjoy Church privileges, or a holy man 
be deprived of them; but the Discipline guards against 
danger in this case ; for if the society be so partial as to 
clear the manifestly guilty, the preacher can refer the 
case to the quarterly meeting conference, consisting of all 
the official members of the circuit who may be supposed 
to be free from partiality ; and if an innocent man be con- 
demned by the prejudices of his class, he may appeal to 
the same body, where he can have justice done him. 
When a man is brought to trial before an intelligent soci- 
ety that will not be in danger of getting into confusion, 
after the case has passed through a thorough examina- 
tion, and the accuser and accused been heard, I would 
advise the preacher to retire, and let the jury — to use a 
law term — deliberate, and form their opinion independ- 
ently, without any dictation from him.f I consider the 
facts of the case and the law both with the jury or soci- 
ety; for they are to say whether he is guilty, and, also, 
whether the crime is expressly forbidden in the word of 



Bishop Heckling says a -whole charge is the society. If so, the prac- 
tice which I disapprove is lawful. 

f Bishop Hedding, in his sermon on Discipline, takes a different view, 
and says the preacher should remain with the society or select number. 
I am of the same opinion I was when I wrote this; but as the Bishop's 
views are of authority in those conferences which adopt them, I would 
not advise a departure from them. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 241 

God and sufficient to exclude the perpetrator from the 
kingdom of grace and glory, or not guilty. If he is 
found guilty of a crime sufficient to deprive him of the 
favor of God in this world and the next, it is the duty of 
the preacher to expel him from the Church which he 
has disgraced and whose privileges he has forfeited, and 
which he can enjoy only by readmission in the same 
manner in which he was admitted at first. The society 
may acquit him of such immoral acts as would require 
his expulsion ; but it may be manifest he has been guilty 
of imprudent conduct, such as requires reproof from a 
preacher or leader, which should now be administered, 
and which should have been performed in the first in- 
stance, if it had not been supposed that the crimes with 
which he was charged would be proved to be of greater 
enormity than merely to require reproof. When reproof for 
indulging in improper tempers or words is administered, 
if there be real signs of penitence manifested, by a hum- 
ble confession and a hearty promise of amendment, he is 
to be borne with. Some have supposed that he is to be 
put back on trial, which, I think, is not the fact ; for it is 
not till the third offense that the matter is to be brought 
before the society ; and I do not suppose the preacher or 
leader has the power to put back on trial independent of 
the society, which would be the case if we are to under- 
stand the rule as some have done. I consider the caption 
of the rule for bringing to trial, etc., calculated to mis- 
lead the preachers ; and it is a pity the General confer- 
ence of 1828, when it struck out the words shall remain 
on trial, and inserted the words shall be borne with, had 
not amended the caption also. Indulgence in sinful 
words or tempers, or disobedience to the orders and Dis- 
cipline of the Church, may forfeit a man's standing, if he 
should be stubborn, and refuse to confess his wrong, and 
penitently promise to amend ; but he can not be expelled 

21 



242 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

•without the verdict of the society, convicting him of 
wrong and of impenitency. There is a rule in our Dis- 
cipline which is intended to guard the peace and harmony 
of the Church, by prohibiting the members from speak- 
ing what may be called treasonous words, in inveighing 
against the doctrine or Discipline of the Church, so as to 
sow, or manifest an endeavor to sow, discord or dissen- 
sion in society. On a charge of violating this wholesome 
rule, the man should be brought before the society or a 
select number, and, if found guilty, he is to be reproved 
by his senior minister ; after which, if he still persist in 
his pernicious course of conduct, he is to be expelled by the 
preacher in charge. Some have complained of this rule 
and its enforcement; but as every man joins the Church 
voluntarily, if he become dissatisfied with her doctrines 
or Discipline, reason and propriety say he should retire 
in quietness, and not endeavor to disturb her harmony by 
his turbulent conduct; and if he will not do so, it is a 
good thing that she has the means by which she can free 
herself from such men as cause her trouble. 

The Discipline requires all the members of society to 
be regular in their attendance to class meetino-, which is 
regarded by us as an important means of grace ; and, in 
case of a failure to do so, it points out the course to be 
pursued by the preacher. He, or one of his colleagues, 
is required to wait on every delinquent member, and 
inform him, if he do not amend, his case will be brought 
before the society, and he will be finally expelled from the 
Church. After waiting a reasonable time to see whether 
his visit has had the desired effect, and no amendment in 
attendance takes place, the case is to be brought before 
the society at such time and place as are known to the 
party concerned. The fact of habitual neglect is proved 
by the class paper — if it has been kept as it should be — 
and by the testimony of the leader and others ; so that 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 243 

the question for the vote of the society is, Has this neg- 
lect been willful ? As the class is supposed to be ac- 
quainted with the circumstances of the case, it is the best 
judge in this case. If the class decide that the neglect 
has been willful, the preacher is then to lay the member 
aside for a breach of our rules, and, I may say, for neg- 
lecting the Scriptural duty of assembling with the people 
of God ; but not for outwardly-immoral conduct. The 
Bible forbids the members of the Church to litigate their 
difficulties in the civil courts ; and in this particular, as in 
all others, the Methodist Discipline is founded on the 
Bible. Any member, therefore, who commences a suit 
at law against another without endeavoring to adjust 
matters in an amicable way, forfeits his standing, unless, 
in the judgment of the class or a select number, the case 
was of such a nature as to justify a process at law. The 
man who refuses to use amicable measures to adjust diffi- 
culties with his brother, on the recommendation of his 
pastor, subjects himself to expulsion, unless the class 
decide that the peculiarities of the case justified him in 
refusing to arbitrate the matter. If a man has failed in 
business and becomes insolvent, a judicious committee, 
which, in reality, is the jury in the case, is to decide 
whether he has or has not been guilty of fraud ; and if 
he be found guilty, the preacher in charge is to expel 
him from the Church. 

On reviewing all the cases that have been noticed, in 
which men become liable to expulsion, it is evident the 
people are protected against all tyranny in the ministry, 
if there be any in it; and, moreover, in all cases of ex- 
pulsion, an appeal is allowed to the quarterly meeting 
conference, where justice may be had. It is to be hoped 
that all who consider the views — which are believed to be 
correct — contained in this and the preceding chapter, will 
not again think the Methodist Episcopal Church to be 



"24A LIFE AND TIMES OF 

that arbitrary and despotic thing which its enemies, either 
in ignorance or malice, have represented it to be, and that 
nothing but maladministration can harm any good man; 
and what government can prevent maladministration ? 






REV. ALLEN WILEY. 245 



CHAPTER XV. 

The duty of the preacher in charge to hold watch-nights, love-feasts, 
quarterly meetings, and to supply his circuit with books and periodicals. 

It has already been remarked that Mr. Wesley fol- 
lowed the openings of Providence in the economy 
adopted by him ; and this is shown by the kind of meet- 
ing called watch-night. Some of his people that were 
zealous to grow in grace were in the habit of meeting 
occasionally, and continuing, till a late hour at night, in 
fervent devotion. He heard of their practice, met with 
them, and about the middle of the night there were un- 
usual displays of Divine grace among them — from which 
time he appointed what has since been called watch- 
nights. On such occasions it is expected that all will 
attend with more than ordinary solemnity, for the purpose 
of waiting longer than at ordinary evening meetings in 
the various devotional exercises that are attended to by 
the ministry and membership; for usually there are a 
sermon or two, and several exhortations, and much sino'- 
ing and prayer. From the short description here given, 
it must be obvious to all that these meetings are admirably 
calculated to produce an excitement of religious feeling 
which it is desirable to accomplish by every prudent effort 
in the preacher's power. The preacher in charge is re- 
quired to appoint these meetings, because it is supposed 
that his age, and experience, and weight of character will 
maintain that order and gravity which should be strictly 
attended to on these interesting occasions. A very young 
man, however good and zealous, might not be able to 
prevent confusion and disorder, which would bring re- 
proach on the Church and vital religion. In the primi- 
21* 



246 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

tive Church many of the members were in indigent cir- 
cumstances by means of outrages committed on their 
goods, and by being deprived of many privileges which 
their wicked neighbors enjoyed who had not embraced 
the Christian religion, which was then greatly despised. 
Under such circumstances they would become objects 
of commiseration to their brethren, whose circumstances 
might be more favorable than theirs, in consequence of 
which means would be used to make them as comfortable 
as circumstances would permit. Hence the custom of 
preparing a frugal meal, called a feast of love, to which 
the indigent were invited, that all might sit down on one 
common level, at the same table, as children of a common 
parent. We may readily conclude that Christian expe- 
rience and the prospects of future bliss would form the 
matter of their social conversation on these interesting- 
occasions. This primitive practice has been long ob- 
served in our Church, in its spirit and design. It is true 
we do not prepare a regular meal, as our people are not 
so necessitous as were many in the primitive Church. 
We only receive a little bread and water as a significant 
indication of our brotherly love and Christian fellowship ; 
after which we spend a season in relating and hearing- 
religious experiences, greatly to our edification and com- 
fort. That these meetings may not become extravagant 
in excitement of feeling on one hand and languid and 
insipid on the other, the preacher is required not to let 
them last more than an hour and a half. Were the doors 
thrown open and all persons permitted to attend our love- 
feasts, a moment's reflection will convince any reasonable 
man that the promiscuous crowd would so depress and 
awe the feelings of even the most pious as to destroy the 
spirituality of the meeting. Hence the propriety of 
refusing a general admittance. As a Methodist love- 
feast is intended for the special benefit of the members 






REV. ALLEN WILEY. 247 

of her own communion, there can be no possible wrong- 
done to persons who are not of us by refusing them 
admittance. But, as we are ashamed of no part of our 
economy, we are willing that all serious persons may be 
present, as often as three times, at our love-feasts; and 
we think it best not to admit them oftener, unless they 
become members. Some preachers think they can mend 
the rule by extending the privileges of love-feast more 
frequently to persons out of our Church, and the conse- 
quences are that our rights are sacrificed without any 
benefit; for all such men will find more difficulty, in the 
end, in fixing the line of demarkation so as to please their 
own people and others than if they had kept the rule 
without endeavoring to mend it. The love-feasts are to 
be held by the preacher in charge; but if he have a 
worthy and capable colleague, I conceive he may do it 
by him; also, if there be local preachers in the circuit, 
whose age, and experience, and weight of character will 
sustain the dignity, importance, and usefulness of love- 
feasts, by them. I fear the preachers, in many instances, 
do not appoint and hold the meetings noticed so often and 
in such a manner as to do the good which might be done 
by them. Quarterly meetings are of much importance to 
our work, as they are the times of transacting the busi- 
ness of the circuit by the official members who compose 
the quarterly meeting conference ; and, also, as they are 
generally times of religious excitement. Sometimes the 
presiding elder, who is the proper superintendent of the 
meeting, may be prevented from attending; in which 
case it becomes necessary that some person be substituted 
in his place, and this the Discipline does, by making it 
the duty of the preacher in charge to hold the quarterly 
meeting; and he, of course, is the proper president of 
the conference. Sometimes it may happen that the 
preacher in charge is a young man of very small expe- 



248 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

rience, and there may be a man of age and experience 
present, who could preside with more dignity and to 
better advantage than the young man, who feels embar- 
rassed under such circumstances. In this case, let the 
legal president call the meeting together and organize it ; 
after which he may call the man of age to the chair, who 
presides in the name of the real president, so that the 
minutes and all other things may be signed by the 
preacher in charge in a legal manner. 

It has been supposed by many that the Methodist min- 
istry and membership possess an entire apathy in refer- 
ence to intellectual culture ; yea, that they rail at learn- 
ing and that knowledge which may be gained from books. 
But let facts speak on this subject. The Church has sev- 
eral hundred thousand dollars invested in her Book Con- 
cern, and hundreds of persons employed in the city of 
New York, and a number in the city of Cincinnati, in 
making books and publishing periodicals, some of which 
have a greater circulation than any others in America.* 
She has, also, considerably more than two thousand trav- 
eling preachers, a part of whose legal duty is to distrib- 
ute the books which are made and to promote the circula- 
tion of her periodicals, f Does this state of things indi- 
cate that we are enemies to information? I think not. 
Let those who are frequently reproaching us for our igno- 
rance examine our capacity and attainment — if they have 
capacity to do so — and they will find some preachers and 

° This was the case before the multiplication of the number of period- 
icals. 

fin 1845 the whole Methodist Episcopal Church had four thousand, 
four hundred and seventy-nine traveling preachers to distribute her 
books. In 1846 the Methodist Episcopal Church had three thousand, two 
hundred and eighty traveling preachers. How many the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church South had at the same time I have no means of ascertain- 
ing; but at this time the two Churches must have near sis thousand trav- 
eling preachers, whose duty it is to distribute books among their people. 






EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 249 

people of our order not a whit behind their chief men in 
intellect and literature ; but I forbear this invidious com- 
parison. In supplying his circuit with books, the preacher 
must use some diligence to ascertain what the wants of 
the people are, together with their ability to purchase; 
but these things are easily accomplished. His great diffi- 
culty will be to convince many that it is their duty to pur- 
chase books. Sometimes he will find a man worth several 
thousand dollars, with a number of children growing to 
maturity, having a library not worth five dollars. When- 
ever I see this state of things, I think about the fox in 
the fable, which, seeing the mask of a playactor, ex- 
claimed, "What a head, but there are no brains in it!" 

The preacher should endeavor, in a mild way, to con- 
vince all persons that are able to do otherwise, that there 
is much impiety in rearing their families without the 
means of intellectual and gracious culture ; for the igno- 
rant are the dupes of knaves, and the creatures of the de- 
signing. There is a popular and true maxim, that "knowl- 
edge is power," which ought to be placed in bold relief in 
the most conspicuous place in every house in the nation. 
While the covetous man is striving to acquire much of 
this world's goods, but neglecting to procure the means 
of information for his family, he is employed in worse than 
"strenuous idleness;" for he is acquiring a fortune for 
unhappy dunces to waste, after their minds and hearts 
have been vitiated thereby. I know that it is very hard 
to convince an ignorant man that there is any necessity 
for any person in the world to possess more information 
than he does himself; for, in general, men are vain in pro- 
portion to their ignorance ; the difficulty should not dis- 
courage, but prompt to reiterated efforts with a determin- 
ation never to yield, till success crown their effort, if 
success be in the bounds of possibility. Many parsimo- 
nious men will try to excuse themselves from purchasing 



250 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

books, because it is supposed the preacher is making 
something by the sale. In this case, honesty is the best 
policy ; therefore, the preacher should let the facts of the 
case be known, and show that he, and the superannuated 
preachers, the widows and orphans of preachers derive 
profit from the sale of the books. He may, also, show 
the propriety and necessity of these profits, as all who are 
connected with the itinerancy are, in general, needy. 
General information on this subject will induce some men 
to purchase books, that otherwise would not do it. There 
is another consideration of importance in the distribution 
of books ; and that is, many of the preachers are in such 
straitened circumstances, that they can not afford them- 
selves extensive libraries, which will not be so afflicting if 
they can meet with a good supply of books in every place 
where they labor ; hence, the preacher Avho exerts himself 
to spread the books, may greatly benefit his brethren in 
the ministry for years to come. 0, but the people are so 
poor that if I sell many books I shall cut off my own re- 
sources ; for what they give for books, they will withhold 
from quarterage ! N"ow, do you really believe this ? If 
you do, I pity your poor little mind, that has no more 
knowledge of human nature. Know you not, that man is 
the creature of habit, and that he who purchases books is 
destroying that covetous feeling of his heart, which pre- 
vented him from being kind to you? Let facts speak: the 
preacher who sells many books, generally, has an indus- 
trious, loving, liberal people. "But my people are, really, 
poor; and, therefore, can not buy many books." It may 
be so, but can they not purchase some ? Persuade them 
to dispense with their whisky,* their tobacco, and other 
superfluities; to rise early, to be industrious when they 
are up, and they will have the means to purchase books, 

* Thank Heaven, the use of whisky has greatly ueclined among religious 
people since this was written. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 251 

and time to read them. Be not discouraged, my brother, 
but make a thorough trial, and you will exceed your own 
expectation. Another advantage will be realized by you, 
for the people will inquire the character of the books 
which you offer for sale, and you will be ashamed to say 
you have never read them ; consequently, you will read 
more yourself. Pardon me when I digress, to give you 
one caution : if your circumstances are moderate, be care- 
ful not to use book money when you have sold books, lest 
you may not be able to raise it when you want it, and 
ought to pay the Book Concern, which is properly the 
property of the poor preachers and their families, whom 
you rob by your failure. Think of this. Unless you are 
careful in dealing in books, you will get your fingers burnt 
before you know it. 



252 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XVI. 

The preacher's duty to take the numbers in his charge — To give the pre- 
siding elder a quarterly account of the state of his charge — To overlook 
the accounts of the stewards — To appoint class collectors — To make quar- 
terly collections — To make missionary collections. 

Mr. Wesley's habit of accuracy led him, at an early 
period of his societies, to take their numbers ■with much 
precision ; and this course has been pursued ever since, in 
the connection, both in Europe and America, so that the 
annual Minutes contain a correct history of the increase 
of Methodism in its membership and traveling ministry; 
and I hope we shall soon have the increase of the local 
ministry presented through the same medium.* As our 
numbers are published to the world, every preacher should 
feel himself bound, by the principles of honor and moral 
honesty, to present the numbers in his circuit correctly. 
There have been many and grievous complaints in taking 
the numbers in divers instances. If there be not more 
care in this thing, I would recommend an impeachment of 
every preacher who makes an inaccurate return. The 
bishops are regarded as the superintendents of the whole 
work; but such is its extension, that it is impossible for 
them to pay particular attention to every part in person ; 
to remedy this unavoidable failure, the presiding eldership 
was instituted. The presiding elders, as the agents of 
the bishops, are required to give them a written account 

c This is now done, only it is not done in such a way as to show the 
number in each circuit and station. Xeither does it designate the num- 
ber of elders, deacons, and preachers respectively, as I could wish to see 
it done. 






REV. ALLEN WILEY. 253 

of the districts, in their absence, which the elders can not 
do, unless they know the state of their districts; hence, 
the preacher in charge is required to give the presiding 
elder quarterly accounts of his circuit. This thing is sel- 
dom attended to. 

Experience has proved in large stations, that the best 
plan is to have the men and women in separate classes, 
which would not be convenient in country places ; but the 
advantage of this separation may be partly realized by 
meeting the men and women separately, once a quarter, 
which the preacher is required to do, whenever it is prac- 
ticable. The Discipline requires the stewards to be men 
of solid piety, who both know and love our doctrine and 
discipline, and of good, natural, and acquired abilities, to 
transact the business of the circuit; but sometimes men 
of accurate business habits can not be obtained; and as 
the man in charge of a circuit is supposed to be a Method- 
ist preacher, he is considered competent to give all neces- 
sary information to the stewards. Frequently, the class- 
collectors send the moneys collected from the classes to 
the circuit stewards, by the hand of the preacher ; conse- 
quently, his moral character is liable to injury, if the 
stewards' accounts are not kept accurately. The preced- 
ing considerations are sufficient to induce a conscientious 
preacher to overlook all the accounts of the stewards, that 
all needful corrections may be made, and necessary infor- 
mation given. Although the preachers of our order pro- 
fess to be called of God to preach, and to be, in some 
sense, thrust out by him into the vineyard, and to be act- 
uated by considerations far superior to those of a pecu- 
niary nature, yet every man should pay some regard to 
the things of this life ; it, therefore, becomes his duty to 
carry into operation the provisions of the Discipline, to 
raise supplies for himself and family ; and if he have no 
family, for the families of others, who are on circuits which 

22 



254 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

are unable or unwilling to make them comfortable ; for all 
surplus money is applied to those who have not received 
their allowance. 

The General Rules make it the duty of the leaders, to 
receive from the members the money which they are will- 
ing to give for the support of the preachers ; but it often 
happens that many who are good leaders in other things, 
are miserably deficient in collecting money for ministerial 
support ; hence, the framers of the Discipline have made 
it the duty of the preacher in charge to appoint a person 
in each class to receive the quarterly collection. When 
there is not a special appointment for this purpose, the 
class-leader is regarded as the class-collector. So far as 
my knowledge extends, the preachers in general, in the 
western country, receive but little more than half their 
allowance, without any thing, in most cases, for table ex- 
penses, etc.* Generally, this deficiency is wholly the 
fault of the preachers themselves, by neglecting to observe 
the arrangements of the Discipline ; for if a few preachers 
attend to their duty, the neglect of the many prevents 
success in raising ample supplies for ministerial support. 
I have yet to be convinced, that a people as numerous as 
ours, possessing the wealth that many of them do, and the 
competency of most, and as religious as they generally 
are, would let the preachers and their families be embar- 
rassed, as they often are, if the proper means were used 
to prevent it. If there be a failure in obtaining support 
from the members of society, the preacher is authorized 
to make public collections round his circuit, once a quar- 
ter. Although it is painful to resort to this measure, it 
had better be done, than for a good and useful man to be 
driven from the work by the heavy hand of poverty, which 

° This was the case -when this was written ; but there has been a very 
great improvement in this matter since, and this improvement is still on 
the advance. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 255 

has been the case many times. I have said it is painful 
to resort to public collections ; not that I think there is 
any impropriety in the measure, considered in the ab- 
stract; but that the motives of the ministry may not 
appear to the world to be of a pecuniary nature. When 
we consider how much the community is bettered by a 
living and faithful ministry, in knowledge and morals, 
there is nothing unreasonable or unjust in expecting the 
community in general to aid in supporting the ministry, 
and many gentlemen and ladies esteem it a duty and 
privilege to do so. Now, let the preachers attend to 
these rules concerning money matters, and they will be 
able to clothe and feed their families comfortably — but 
not extravagantly, which they ought not to do if they 
had the means — and educate their children in a respect- 
able manner, which will be all they can expect; for a 
fortune is not to be made in the itinerant life in the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church. 

I gladly leave money matters, and turn to things of 
more importance. An attentive survey of Heaven's plans 
of saving men, will convince us that one of the most 
prominent is of a missionary character. The Son of God 
was a missionary sent from heaven to earth. The apos- 
tles were missionaries sent to Jews and Gentiles in all the 
world. Many of the ancient prophets were itinerant mis- 
sionaries. If ever the whole world be evangelized and 
civilized thereby, missionary operations must effect the 
work; for a regular, settled ministry can never exist in 
any unchristianized country, and if it could exist, it could 
not do the good which a missionary can accomplish. 
Settle a man in any place, and he contracts his partial- 
ities and prejudices toward the people and the people 
toward him, by which his usefulness is greatly curtailed. 
His views, his feelings, his operations become local, 
whereas the views, the feelings, and the operations of 



256 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the missionary are expanded and can be circumscribed 
by nothing less than earth's population. This statement 
will explain the reason why a few itinerant Methodist 
ministers have done more to promote the present and 
future welfare of the people in these United States, in 
little more than half a century, than all the regular 
clergy in America have done from its first settlement 
down to the present day. The success which has at- 
tended our operations, unexampled since the apostolic 
age, has been of incalculable service to many other de- 
nominations, who have added a missionary ministry to 
their regularly-settled pastoral arrangement. In this we 
rejoice; but we think it would be more generous, in 
some cases, if they would acknowledge that they kindled 
their fire at the Oxford torch — I mean the influence of 
Wesley an Methodism — which some noble souls among 
them do, with great candor and gratitude. 

It may be said the Methodists have been tardy in com- 
mencing missionary operations. But this is a mistake; 
for if you will examine, it will be found that the Wesleys 
and Whitefield were missionaries from England to Amer- 
ica more than one hundred years ago ; and Coke and 
others were actively engaged in missionary operations in 
the West Indies, shortly after the American revolution. 
It is true we do not read so much about missions in our 
Church in former years ; but the fact is, our whole itiner- 
ant ministry is missionary in its whole features, and it 
was not deemed necessary to have a systematic plan of 
missionary operations distinct from the regular itinerant 
ministry till the densely -populated part of our country 
was occupied. But let none suppose, from these remarks, 
that the frontiers were neglected by us in our zeal to oc- 
cupy the cities, towns, villages, and pojiidous neighbor- 
hoods. The Minutes and the old preachers will tell of 
frontier scenes which have never been realized by the 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 257 

preachers of modern days, and which never can be real- 
ized by them; for the new settlements which are now 
formed have many more comforts than those that were 
formed in years gone by. The plan of sending men into 
the frontiers of the work, to be supported by the mission- 
ary fund, is now adopted — which is as it should be ; for it 
is calculated to bring the support of the preachers more 
on an equality. For a number of years last past the 
Head of the Church has given us access to the aboriginals 
of our country to a degree unknown to former ages ; for, 
although Elliott and others, in New England, were greatly 
blessed in their labors among them, and the Moravians in 
other parts, there never was that depth of religious expe- 
rience generally, and that systematic mode of Church 
government, and that approximation to civilization that 
are now realized. There is a great and effectual door 
now opening on the benighted continent of Africa for the 
missionary operations of our Church, but which, I be- 
lieve, will ultimately have to be carried on by colored 
laborers, whose constitutions seem adapted to the climate. 
I also look forward to the day when the missionaries of 
our Church shall bear a conspicuous part in the propa- 
gation of Protestant Christianity among the millions in 
Mexico and South America. From this very brief survey 
of missionary ground and operations it must be evident 
that large sums of money will be needed to carry into 
effect the benevolent plans of Heaven and the Church. 
But the gold and silver, and every thing else requisite 
for this work, belong to the Head of the Church. Much, 
however, of the means is in the hand of parsimonious 
stewards, who are unwilling that their Lord should do 
what he will with his own, but are anxious to circum- 
scribe him in his plans of operation ; but we think many 
of them are becoming more faithful, and it is the duty 
of those who have the charge of circuits to exert them- 
22* 



258 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

selves in producing a spirit of fidelity among those stew- 
ards in whose hands Heaven's means are lodged. That 
preacher who is indifferent about missionary operations, 
and negligent in collecting money for the same, has either 
a very shallow head or a very cold heart, which is a 
reproach to him and a disgrace to the Church, and the 
sooner he retires from a prominent station the better, un- 
less he will reform, which will be the best course. The 
foregoing is not intended for an industrious man, who 
may have been unsuccessful because he had a barren soil. 






KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 259 



CHAPTER XVII. 

The duty of preachers in charge to promote the Bible, Sunday school, 
and tract cause, and the erection of meeting-houses in their respective 
charges. 

The age in which we live is one which is characterized 
by benevolent effort. The formation of Sunday schools, 
together with Bible and tract societies, has been the 
means of doing a quantum of good, that will be known 
only in eternity, when the results of pious zeal and effort 
will be fully developed — when the millions who have 
been saved by such means shall join in holy exultation 
before the throne of the Eternal. When we consider the 
susceptibility of the young mind for deep impressions and 
the durability of early knowledge, we are astonished that 
men of enlightened minds and benevolent hearts did not 
adopt Sunday school instruction ages ago. But it is a 
fact that almost all great and good things seem to be for- 
tuitous in their commencement, so far as human agency 
is concerned, that the glory may be given to God. Mr. 
Raikes and Mr. Wesley were nearly cotemporary in estab- 
lishing Sunday schools,' which, however, were not gener- 
ally extended over England and America till of late 
years ; and there yet remains too much ignorance of their 
nature, and too much indifference about their utility, 
among ministers and people. As it regards our denom- 
ination, the General conference and the Book Agency are 
not to blame for the limited influence of Sunday schools 
among us ; for the one has made it the duty of the 
preachers and the other has furnished the means to ex- 
tend Sunday school instruction to the hundreds of thou- 



260 



LIFE AND TIMES OF 



sands of the children of our people. Notwithstanding 
the Bible and tract societies, denominated American, and 
the Sunday School Union of the same denomination have 
done much good, and have our cordial good-will, and 
should never be opposed by us, unless they abuse their 
influence, yet it was believed by the General conference 
that more good would be accomplished by our denomina- 
tion and its friends by having similar institutions under 
its own care and control. In consequence of our having 
a large, and well-organized, and prudently-conducted 
Book Concern, it was believed that Bibles, Sunday 
school books, and tracts, could be published by us 
cheaper than by the American societies, and that Sunday 
school books and tracts would be put in the hands of our 
people and their children free from every sentiment and 
all phraseology that are not in strict accordance with 
truth as we understand it, which was not the case with 
the books of the American institutions. The attempt was 
made in pursuance of an order of the General conference, 
and a Bible and tract society, and Sunday School Union 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church were formed — not as 
rivals of the American societies, but as fellow-helpers in 
the same good work. Our Bible society has not greatly 
flourished; and, indeed, we have felt less anxiety in its 
behalf than we otherwise should have done, because the 
country in general is fully supplied with Bibles at very 
cheap rates by merchants, the American Bible Society, 
and our Book Concern.* The Sunday school and tract 



° The Methodist Bible Society, -which -was organized nearly twenty 
years ago, had rather a feeble existence, and was finally dissolved, and 
we now take a lively interest and an active part in the American Bible 
Society, -with which we are pledged to co-operate. 

Since this chapter was written, we, as a people, have far transcended 
ourselves in the Sunday school cause; but as we do not come up to what 
we should do, I deem it proper to let the admonitions and exhortations 
remain as I wrote them a little more than fourteen yea:. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 261 

cause under our patronage has had a more extended and 
vigorous operation and influence, because a more ener- 
getic support has been afforded, but which has been 
feeble in comparison of what it should have been and 
what we hope it will yet be. In many instances our 
people seem not to understand the nature of our benev- 
olent institutions as they ought. This want of under- 
standing can not be owing to a want of facilities to give 
information, but to negligence on the part of the preacher 
and a criminal indifference among the people. I am far 
from charging all with this negligence and indifference ; 
for there are many noble spirits among the preachers and 
people that have exerted a laudable zeal in the cause of 
benevolence, and I hope their efforts will yet be crowned 
with glorious success. Such is the nature of our itiner- 
ant operations, that if every preacher would do his duty 
in a proper manner and with becoming zeal, our whole 
country would soon realize the beneficial effects of the 
several benevolent societies of our Church. But, alas! 
how many pass on, year after year, in almost entire neg- 
lect of this part of their duty ! It is true many of our 
preachers are young and destitute of experience, which 
may be some apology for them ; but I fear, I greatly fear, 
they do not try to learn how to do this part of their work, 
and none are so ignorant as those who will not learn. 
Every preacher in charge of a circuit is required, as far 
as practicable, to form the children belonging to his con- 
gregation into classes, for the purpose of giving them 
religious instruction. But this he can not do, in many 
cases, in consequence of his other important and numer- 
ous duties ; but this unavoidable lack of service may be 
partly remedied by well-directed Sunday school instruc- 
tion. This consideration should have a powerful influence 
on the mind and effort of every preacher who wishes con- 
scientiously to do what he solemnly promised to perform 



262 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

when lie was received as a member of his conference. 
How a preacher can, habitually, neglect the rising gener- 
ation, and have a conscience free from continual lacera- 
tion, can not be understood, unless we suppose his mind 
so dark as not to perceive the necessity of giving the 
minds of the young a right direction. Should this be the 
case, he ought to go to Sunday school himself, that he 
may learn what he ought to have known before he as- 
sumed the office of teaching others. It is not, generally, 
a want of capacity to see and feel the importance of 
youthful instruction, that causes so much neglect, but a 
heedless indifference about the subject. That preacher 
who neglects to exert himself in the cause of Sunday 
schools, is chargeable with neglecting the interests of his 
own Church ; for, to a considerable extent, the increase in 
all Churches is from the children of their own members. 
If, therefore, the preacher takes no pains with the children 
of his charge, they will learn idle or vicious habits on the 
Lord's day, or they will be tutored by others, who will 
teach them sentiments, and forms, and modes of worship, 
subversive of our sentiments, forms, and modes, all of 
which we think of some importance ; because they have 
the sanction of the Bible, and the example of Bible saints, 
which should be regarded by every man., who wishes to 
conform to the whole will of God, and the proprieties of 
Divine worship. 

As our work is extended into every part of the United 
States and territories, it is to be expected that different 
plans of operation, to arrive at the same end, would be 
more proper in different places ; in consequence of which, 
the General conference has clothed each annual confer- 
ence with authority to prescribe the methods by which the 
cause of benevolence shall be sustained and extended 
among us. In order, therefore, that a preacher may do 
his duty, he should learn the plan of operation prescribed 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 263 

by his conference, and then diligently and conscientiously 
comply with it. Our plan of changing preachers annu- 
ally, although a good one, has its inconveniences, particu- 
larly in the promotion of Sunday schools ; for one preacher 
is zealous in this work, and establishes a number of 
schools in his circuit ; but before they have acquired sta- 
bility, his time on the circuit ends; his successor comes 
on, a stranger to the state of things ; in consequence of 
which, the Sunday schools are measurably neglected, and 
many of them languish and die. This inconvenience was 
perceived by the General conference, which is ever mind- 
ful of the interests of the Church, and a remedy was pro- 
vided by requiring every preacher in charge, to present 
the quarterly meeting conference, at its last meeting in 
each conference year, a written statement of the number, 
and state of the Sunday schools on the circuit, and this 
statement is to be entered on the journals of the quarterly 
meeting conference ; so that when a new preacher arrives 
on the circuit, he can call on the recording steward, and 
receive the information needful, that he may immediately 
commence where his predecessor ceased, in consequence 
of his removal.* But how many preachers prepare well- 
written and accurate statements of facts, to be journal- 
ized ? And how many, on coming to a new circuit, hasten 
to examine the journals for the purpose of gaining infor- 
mation, that will enable them to commence immediately 
in- sustaining the Sunday school cause? Alas! but few, 
in the bounds of my acquaintance. Can it be a matter of 
wonder that our operations are crippled, while so many 
neglect these positive and necessary duties ? So long as 

° At a subsequent General conference, the rule was amended so as to re- 
quire a written statement to be presented to every quarterly conference. 
To keep tbis subject before the official members, the presiding elder is re- 
quired to ask, at every quarterly meeting conference, whether the rules 
concerning the instruction of children have been faithfully observed. 



264 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

we have to commence our work anew every year, we shall 
never have settled and successful schools under our care, 
in our circuits generally. A business man — and such 
should all the preachers learn to be — can make a sufficient 
report of the schools on his circuit in an hour or two, and 
his successor could copy it in the same length of time, so 
as to have it always at hand in the beginning of the year, 
that he may immediately attend to the schools in his 
charge. Then why, my brethren, will you let the work 
of a few hours go undone, to the lasting injury of an im- 
portant part of your work? I do hope you will amend in 
the discharge of this, as well as in other parts of your 
duty. A report, containing the number of Sunday schools, 
together with the amount collected for the support of mis- 
sions, and for the publication of Bibles, tracts, and Sunday 
school books, is to be made to the annual conference, 
that the annual Minutes may, as far as possible, show our 
doings iii the vineyard of the Lord; not for the purpose 
of ostentation, but to encourage the friends and servants 
of Immanuel to redouble their diligence, and to persevere 
till the kingdoms of this world shall become the king- 
doms of God and his Anointed. Onward, my brethren, 
onward ; for the saints of the Most High shall possess the 
kingdom forever, even forever and ever. 

The prosperity of the Church greatly depends on com- 
modious places of worship ; for if they are wanting, hun- 
dreds and thousands will not attend our ministry, that 
would be our constant hearers. This remark will apply, 
particularly, to the more refined part of society ; many of 
them greatly prefer our doctrine and modes of worship, 
but attend the ministry of other denominations, because 
their houses of worship are more spacious. Many of our 
people, it is true, are in moderate circumstances ; but were 
they generous, to the extent of their means, almost every 
populous neighborhood, with a good class of Methodists 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 265 

in it, might have a respectable Methodist meeting-house ; 
in consequence of which there would be great accessions 
to the Church, and these accessions would enable us to 
increase the number and size of our meeting-houses, com- 
mensurate with the» increase of population and attendance 
on our ministrations. The Discipline seems to contem- 
plate a general fund for church building ; but the newness 
of our country, and the limited means of our people, seem 
to forbid such a plan in the west, at present ; and this plan 
is only required in those circuits which are able to bear it. 
Notwithstanding a general fund may not be raised for 
church building, yet every preacher may do much toward 
building places of worship, by suitable exhortations and 
counsels. In many populous and rich places in the coun- 
try the preaching and class meetings are at private houses, 
to the no small burden of the families, for many years in 
succession. * Ought these things to be? Nay, verily; 
and they would not be so, if we were all faithful in trying 
to promote the interests of the Church, by erecting solemn 
temples to the Most High. 

° Since this was written our people have made wonderful progress in 
church building, and the prospect now is that preaching in private houses, 
in the older parts of the country, will soon be entirely dispensed with. 

23 



266 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

The preacher to furnish his successor a correct plan of the circuit — To 
see that our people do not lose their membership hy removal — To use his 
influence that our people may be cleanly and decent — To read the general 
rules to the societies and congregations — To appoint prayer meetings — To 
see that our people fast on the Friday prior to each quarterly meeting — 
To license suitable persons to exhort. 

Having said so much, in former chapters, on the duties 
of those who have the charge of circuits, I shall only 
make a few passing remarks on some of the other direc- 
tions given to them. When a preacher arrives in his field 
of labor, it is desirable that he have facilities to com- 
mence every part of his work, especially that of visiting 
from house to house ; in order to which his predecessor is 
required to furnish a catalogue of the societies, as the 
members live on the several streets in towns and cities. 
The information thus furnished will save a strange 
preacher much valuable time, and will prevent much 
trouble. A knowledge of the state of a circuit is of 
much importance to a preacher, that he may be prepared 
to adapt his various ministrations to the condition of the 
people. Hence the propriety of the preacher leaving his 
successor a particular account of the circuit. A plan 
containing merely the preaching-places and the numbers 
in society is very far from a compliance with the direction 
in the Discipline. The plan of a circuit should exhibit 
the preaching-places, the day and hour for preaching, the 
number in society, the local elders, deacons, and preach- 
ers ; the exhorters, stewards, and leaders ; the periodicals 
taken in the neighborhood, and the general religious state 
of each society; all of which items should be arranged in 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 267 

tabular order, accompanied with a list of the probation- 
ers, as was noticed in a former chapter. Sometimes 
months are lost by a strange preacher, for want of the 
information which might be given by his predecessor in 
a few hours, in consequence of his opportunity of being- 
well acquainted with the state of things on the circuit in 
the course of the preceding year. The rules of society, 
whether general or special, are considered as calculated 
to promote the glory of God and the happiness of the 
members of the Church. Consequently, they should all 
be enforced vigorously ; for the practice of letting a 
standing rule in the Discipline become a dead letter by 
neglect presents a bad and dangerous precedent; for if 
one rule may be treated thus, all may be treated in the 
same way with equal propriety, which course of conduct 
would finally abrogate the whole Discipline. But while 
there is a vigorous course pursued in enforcing the Disci- 
pline, it should not be a rash and imperious one, because 
the wrath of a minister worketh neither the righteousness 
of God nor the peace and happiness of society ; for men 
will resist an overbearing manner, however good the 
thing may be which is aimed at, while a mild and 
gentle manner will prevail on men to do all the things 
required by our strict but Scriptural rules. 

Notwithstanding Methodism is extended all over the 
civilized and some of the savage parts of these United 
States and territories, and is divided into conferences, dis- 
tricts, circuits, stations, societies, and classes, yet we are 
all one people, one Church, believing the same doctrines, 
and practicing the same mode of Discipline, with a una- 
nimity such as has not been witnessed among any other 
people since the days of the primitive Church, while 
under apostolic ministrations and superintendence.* The 

s When this was written the Methodist Episcopal Church was a unit ; 
but, alas! the "great evil of slavery" has made her twain. We of the 



268 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

consequence of this unanimity is, that a degree of broth- 
erly love and Christian fellowship has prevailed among 
us, as a people, seldom seen in other denominations of 
modern days. That this fellowship may continue it is 
necessary that the Church be protected from imposition, 
and this is done by requiring every person applying to be 
received as a member, in any place, on the ground of 
former standing, to present a certificate of such standing, 
signed by the preacher of the circuit from which the per- 
son applying may have removed. The propriety of the 
certificate being signed by an itinerant preacher is man- 
ifest ; for, as his name is generally on the minutes, a ref- 
erence may be made to the minutes to see if the person 
who has signed the certificate was, at the time of such 
signing, the preacher in charge of the circuit. The 
preceding remarks will suggest the propriety of the rule 
requiring the preacher to warn all, from time to time, not 
to remove without obtaining a certificate ; for if any do 
so, he can not be received into Church as a regular mem- 
ber. When any person settles in a strange place, pro- 
fessing to be a Methodist, and has not a certificate, there 
are suspicions resting on him that his standing was not 
good in the place from whence he came, which will do 
him much injury, that might have been prevented by a 
little care of the preacher and the person himself. 

One of Mr. Wesley's valuable maxims was, Let thy 
mind's sweetness have its operation on thy person, 
clothes, and habitation. In pursuance of this maxim, 
it is made the duty of the preacher to recommend de- 
cency and cleanliness every-where ; in order to which 
the preacher should set the example himself, and then 
follow it with precept. Decency comes from "decet'' — it 



north do not consider her as properly divided, but that the South has 
seceded. I presume, however, that each body will receive the members 
of the other on certificate given by the preachers of each. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 269 

becomes, it beseems, it behooves, it is suitable — and will 
embrace propriety of dress, good breeding, genteel be- 
havior, or a modest appearance and affable manners. 
Much prudence will be needed by him who endeavors to 
perform this part of his duty ; for should he be indiscreet 
in his manner of recommending these thino-s, he will lose 
all his labor and incur much odium and ill-will. There- 
fore, let him recommend decency in a decent manner. 
Decency and cleanliness are closely allied to purity of 
mind and piety of heart, and there is reason to fear there 
is not much genuine religion under a voluntarily-slovenly 
and filthy exterior of person, or interior of a house, or 
any thing else with which a professor of religion is con- 
nected. Sometimes abject poverty or affliction will pre- 
vent some good people from being neat and cleanly, as 
they would wish, and these are to be pitied more than 
blamed. 

There is nothing in the economy of Methodism of 
which any minister or member of the Church ought to 
be ashamed, or afraid to let it be known ; and, indeed, we 
are anxious all the world should know all the rules of our 
societies. The members of our Church ought to be well 
acquainted with our rules, as they are required to walk in 
conformity to them, and by neglecting so to do, they sub- 
ject themselves to Church trial and a forfeiture of Church 
membership. To prevent, therefore, their ignorance and 
the consequences that may ensue, it is made the duty of 
the preacher in charge, with the aid of his colleagues, to 
read the general rules once a quarter, in each society; 
and that ail who attend the Methodist ministry may know 
what the moral Discipline requires of all the members, 
these rules are to be read once a year in every congre- 
gation. How far the people forget, and, in consequence, 
ignorantly misrepresent the preachers, or how far they 
willfully do so, I know not ; but if there be no misrepre- 
23* 



270 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

sentation, there is a general and shameful neglect of this 
duty among the preachers ; for, with very few exceptions, 
I hear great complaints in reference to this duty. If the 
preacher would only reflect that many of our people 
never read the Discipline for themselves, the propriety 
and necessity of attending to this duty will be very man- 
ifest. Can we, my brethren, expect the people to be reg- 
ular in doing their duties while we are so remiss in afford- 
ing them the helps which they need, and which are in 
our power to furnish ? Surely our example will be con- 
tagious. 

In promoting a revival of God's work, every means, 
whether instituted or prudential, should be resorted to. 
Therefore, the preacher should seek aid, to this end, from 
the private as well as from the official members of the 
Church. Consequently, he should appoint prayer meet- 
ings in every part of the circuit where it is practicable. 
To see a number of pious persons assembled for the pur- 
pose of engaging in a devout prayer meeting is an inter- 
esting sight to men, to angels, and to God, who will be 
moved by fervent prayers to send his blessings down on 
the objects for whom they are offered. A man may 
attend the public services of the Church in a decent 
manner, and be very little interested, as he is not re- 
quired to take an active part ; but when he attends the 
prayer meeting, in which he becomes an actor, he will 
become more interested at the time, and he will be more 
watchful and prayerful at other times that his prayer may 
not be hindered at the prayer meeting. That preacher 
who can succeed in having interesting prayer meetings 
well attended all round his circuit, will not be long with- 
out refreshing times ; for the effectual, fervent prayer of a 
whole circuit will avail much in promoting a blessed and 
glorious revival of evangelical religion. 

The quarterly meetings are times of much importance 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 271 

to a circuit, both in a business and a spiritual point of 
view, and every thing should be done to make them 
interesting and useful. Hence, the preacher is required 
to take care that a fast be held on his circuit on the Fri- 
day prior to each quarterly meeting. That fasting is a 
Bible duty I deem unnecessary to prove, and that prayer 
should be united with it I suppose all will admit. When, 
therefore, a whole circuit humbles and afSicts itself before 
the Lord on a given day, and approaches him in unusu- 
ally solemn and vehement prayer, may we not reasonably 
expect a special blessing to attend the business and exer- 
cises of the quarterly meeting ? This quarterly fasting, I 
fear, is greatly neglected by our people — whether through 
the neglect of the preachers or of themselves I can not 
say. Merely to say, in an indifferent and careless man- 
ner, that such a day will be fast day, will have but little 
effect on the people; for their understandings and con- 
sciences must be influenced, or they will not deny their 
appetites so as to keep a holy fast to the Lord. Conse- 
quently, some pains must be taken to explain and enforce 
the duty; for, as all religious services are reasonable, 
they should be performed understandingly and consci- 
entiously. 

The last item in the section of Discipline, we have had 
under consideration is to license suitable persons as ex- 
horters, which is a very important duty. As a Church, 
we believe in a Divine and special call to every depart- 
ment of public ministerial services. Consequently, when 
we license men to preach or exhort, we do it on the sup- 
position that the Head of the Church has called them to 
the work. Therefore, every preacher ought to be well 
convinced that God has called the man to the work before 
he gives him license. Were the preachers conscientious, 
as they should be, the quarterly conference would not 
have to spend so much time in examining the characters 



272 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

of so many drones, as is now the case, and the presiding 
elders would not have to write and sign so many useless 
licenses as they now do. The evidence that men are 
called to be exhorters is to be ascertained by their having 
gifts and grace for the work; for we may rest well as- 
sured that if Heaven call any man to official station in 
the Church he will give the qualifications necessary. It 
may be remarked that the feeling of favoritism in the 
preacher is strictly guarded ; for he may not give license 
to any without the consent of a leader's meeting or of a 
class. I have now passed through the sections containing 
the duties of those who have charo-e of circuits, and have 
noticed every thing material, and, with much good-will, I 
now take leave of my brethren of this class. 



KEY. ALLEN WILEY. 273 



CHAPTER XIX. 

The importance of the presiding eldership — The appointing power in 
the bishop, and properly so — The duties of the presiding elder, and of the 
quarterly conference in which he presides. 

Section fifth, chapter first, of the Discipline, will now 
claim our attention in the two following chapters. Every 
man who considers that the call for laborers in the itiner- 
ant field is such, that young and inexperienced men are 
necessarily placed in important pastoral stations, will at 
once see that the necessities of the young men call for an 
experienced guide, and the concerns of the Church call 
for the office of presiding elder. The men selected to fill 
this important and responsible office, are usually men of 
established piety, of talents, age, and experience, and who 
have borne the heat and burden of the day, in whom the 
superintendency can confide ; but sometimes such men as 
are desirable, are not to be had, and the appointing power 
is under the necessity of using such material as it has, 
although not altogether suitable. Much has been said on 
the subject of the appointing power by which the presid- 
ing elders are appointed; but it is not my purpose to enter 
into this controversy. If the harmony of the conference 
be consulted, and the fellowship of brethren be desired, 
the present plan is, by far, better than an election, for, as 
it was stated in the chapter that embraced the appointment 
of class-leaders, elections can not be introduced, without 
their accompaniments, an electioneering spirit and man- 
agement, which would destroy brotherly love. The bish- 
ops are chosen by the General conference to superintend 



274 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

the whole work, but as they can not attend, in person, to 
all the details of our economy, the conference has given 
them the presiding eldership to help them, so that as the 
presiding elders are the immediate helpers and deputies 
of the superintendents, they ought, as a matter of right, 
to have the power of appointing their substitutes. So far 
as my knowledge extends, the bishops do not act despotic 
in appointing men to be presiding elders, but exercise the 
best judgment they have, after deliberate consultation 
with brethren of age and experience, and who have the 
good of the Church much at heart ; and I am persuaded, 
were the preachers in any district dissatisfied with their 
presiding elder, the bishops would remove such elder, on 
learning the wish of the preachers. 

The presiding elders being men of weight and influ- 
ence — if they are what they should be — are calculated to 
extend and sustain our doctrines and economy among the 
people, by their preaching, and pious and grave example, 
in connection with their weight of character. It is made 
the duty of the presiding elder to travel through his ap- 
pointed district, and he is expected to preach as much as 
his time and strength will permit; and were this all he 
has to do, his work would be comparatively easy, but 
when his responsibilities are considered, it may be said 
great and laborious is his charge ; for in the absence of 
the bishops he is required to take charge of the elders and 
deacons, traveling and local preachers, and exhorters in 
his district. When we consider the diversity of men's 
minds, tempers, talents, circumstances, and temptations, 
all of which are to be attended to by the presiding elder, 
that he may aid his brethren to be useful, we may well 
say, who can sustain the anxiety of mind and the labors 
required of him '? 

When the appointments of preachers are made at con- 
ference, all the information is obtained which can be had, 






REV. ALLEN WILEY. 275 

but sometimes, after all possible care, there are appoint- 
ments made which are injudicious, and the usefulness and 
success of the preachers, and the good of the Church, re- 
quire a change to be made. At other times causes trans- 
pire after conference which require a change. Great 
judgment and much caution are required in making- 
changes, so as not to injure the feelings and usefulness of 
the preachers, and the feelings of the members of Church. 
The day was, when a change of preachers was expected 
frequently, but now, if a presiding elder change men, they 
and their particular friends are grievously injured in their 
feelings ; and some men seem as if they would rather re- 
main a whole year where they were appointed, although 
perfectly useless, than to be removed to other circuits, 
where they might do good. Brethren, is this as it should 
be ? I think not. 

The power of receiving preachers, in the interval of 
conference, is given to the presiding elder, to fill vacancies 
that may have been left at the time of conference, or 
which may have occurred afterward. And here he will 
meet serious difficulties, for many are anxious to thrust 
themselves out who will not answer the purpose; while 
those that would be acceptable and useful, can hardly be 
obtained; but in this case the presiding elder should be 
firm, and never intrude a man upon the people that does 
not bid fair to be useful, and prove a blessing to them, for 
they had better do without a preacher, than have a man 
who is unacceptable to them ; and sometimes an improper 
man being employed, he is seized with the traveling fidg- 
ets, to such a degree, that he is never more worth any 
thing for business, and will never rest till he becomes a 
traveling preacher, if not among us, he will travel among 
those who will use material that will not answer our pur- 
pose. It is true we are often relieved in this way from 
men who would preach if they knew how. When the 



276 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

presiding elder finds a man who wishes to travel, and who 
is likely to be useful, he should, if possible, give him an 
opportunity of making trial before he is recommended to 
conference, particularly if he is a married man; for it 
never can be certainly known by any man, whether an 
itinerant life will suit him or he it, till trial be made, and 
it does a man less injury to make a trial under the direc- 
tion of an elder and fail, than under the direction of a 
conference and then fail. I would advise all men who 
intend to be traveling preachers, if opportunity will permit, 
to make trial of traveling under an elder before they offer 
to conference. 

The manner in which a preacher is to be suspended, is 
pointed out in the nineteenth section, where the duty of 
the presiding elder is plainly stated. The answer to the 
first question directs the course when a traveling preacher 
is accused of immoralities ; the answer to the second, the 
course when improper tempers, words, or actions have 
been indulged ; and the answer to the third, the course 
when unmethodistical doctrines have been held and dis- 
seminated. I consider the nineteenth section so plain that 
it needs no comment, as any man suitable for a presiding 
elder will readily understand it. 

The Discipline makes the bishop the president of the 
conference ; but if he should fail to attend, it has made 
provision for a president pro tempore, either by the ap- 
pointment of the bishop, or the election of the conference. 
When a presiding elder becomes the president of an an- 
nual conference, he is clothed with all the power of the 
bishop, with the exception of ordination and the transfer- 
ring of a preacher from his conference to another, or from 
another to his. As it happens but seldom that a presiding 
elder is placed in the important station of the president 
of an annual conference, I do not deem it necessary to 
notice, in this place, the duties in that station, as they are 






REV. ALLEN WILEY. 277 

to be found under the heads of the annual conferences 
and the duties of bishops. 

It has before been stated that the quarterly meetings 
are important, on account of their business transactions 
and i^eligious exercises ; consequently, it becomes the duty 
of the presiding elder, so far as is practicable, to be pres- 
ent at them, that the benefits of his labors and experience 
may be had. It is made the duty of the presiding elder 
to call together the official members of the circuit, to form 
a conference for the transaction of business. The first 
duty of the conference, when called together by the pres- 
ident, is to hear complaints. There is a vagueness in the 
phrase to hear complaints, which is calculated to perplex 
all presiding elders and quarterly meeting conferences, and 
which perplexes the present writer. I will, however, give 
a few specimens of what I think may be ranked under 
this head. When the preacher in charge had recom- 
mended an arbitration, as was noticed in the chapter on 
expelling members from Church, if either party be dissat- 
isfied he may complain to the quarterly meeting confer- 
ence, which has the power to grant a new arbitration. If 
any member of the quarterly meeting conference neglect 
his official or religious duties, he may and ought to be 
complained of in conference. Sometimes there are or- 
dained local preachers, whose lives are not immoral in the 
common acceptation of that term, but who neglect all pub- 
lic and family means of grace; for which neglect, I be- 
lieve a quarterly conference has the power to deprive all 
such of their ministerial standing, after having given them 
sufficient notice that their case would be acted on; and 
then they are thrown into the hands of the preacher and 
societies as other private members ; indeed, I believe the 
conference has original jurisdiction, and can expel a 
preacher for any thing for which the preacher and society 
can expel a private member. Sometimes the traveling 

24 



278 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

preachers may neglect some of their official duties, such 
as attending their appointments, meeting classes, reading- 
rules, exercising the Discipline, etc., all of which things 
ought to be complained of in conference, in the presence 
of the official members and the presiding elder, that the 
preachers may have an opportunity of making satisfactory 
explanations, if they can do so, that the elder may be 
properly prepared to represent his brethren at the annual 
conference, which he can not so well do from information 
received from a few persons in a private manner. As I 
said so much in a former chapter on expulsion, and the 
rights of appeal, I shall say nothing here on the subject 
of trying appeals, farther than to remark, that I consider 
the whole merits of a case brought before the conference 
on appeals, and not merely the legality of the former trial, 
as some have contended. If the legality of a former trial 
is alone the matter on which the conference is to decide, 
and not the justice of the case, the right of appeal is a 
very small safeguard against the prejudices of a preacher 
or a class. 

There are other important matters to be transacted in a 
quarterly conference : such as the appointing and remov- 
ing the circuit stewards; examining the reports of, and 
giving the directions to the boards of trustees of meeting- 
houses and parsonages ; appointing committees to estimate 
the table and fuel expenses of preachers' families, and to 
estimate the amounts necessary to build meeting-houses, 
all of which matters should be done with much care, with 
an eye to the glory of God and the present and future 
good of the Church. 

Since the local conferences have died a natural death,* 

° At the General conference in 1820, there was a rule passed organizing 
a local conference in each presiding elder's district, consisting of all the 
local elders, deacons, and preachers in the district, making the presiding 
elder the president of the conference. The duties of this conference uore 



EEV. ALLEN WILEY. 279 

the business usually transacted by them, in their short 
and sickly lifetime, is done by the quarterly conferences : 
such as licensing and renewing the license of preachers 
and exhorters, recommending men to the annual confer- 
ences for ordination, and to be received on trial, and the 
expulsion of local preachers. There is one item named 
here on which I wish to make a few remarks, as I think 
many have wrong views, which have done much harm: 
I mean the renewing of license. Many licensed local 
preachers and their friends seem to think that a quarterly 
meeting conference is bound to renew their license as a 
matter of course, and that if this is not done, they are 
greatly wronged; hence, many leave the Church when 
their licenses are not renewed, and join other denomina- 
tions which have more anxiety for nominal preachers than 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. The fact is, that an an- 
nual renewal of license at once proves that the Church 
considers every licentiate as a probationer from year to 
year; and the Discipline says the quarterly conference — 
which acts in the place of the local conference — has power 
to renew license only in cases where the gifts, grace, and 
usefulness will warrant such renewal. Were this thing- 
understood and regarded as it should be, men would not 

to examine the characters of all its members, to license preachers and re 
new their license, to recommend suitable persons to the annual conference 
to be received on trial as traveling preachers, and persons to be ordained 
deacons and elders, and to expel local preachers. At first these confer- 
ences were pretty well attended, but the distance to travel, the time re- 
quired, and the expense incurred, soon caused such a falling off in the 
attendance, that the next General conference had to make provision for 
the respective quarterly conferences to do the business if the local confer- 
ences failed to meet; and such was the failure, that the conferences be- 
came extinct, and the General conference of 1836 expunged the entire 
section organizing local conferences from the Discipline. So much for 
the folly of trying to please a few discontented men, to accommodate 
whom the project was gotten up; but, after all, the most of the discon- 
tented left the Church. 



280 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

vote, from year to year, to renew the license of men "whom 
they believe in their souls can not preach, but whose feel- 
ings they are unwilling to hurt. An intelligent and hum- 
ble brother would not be injured in his feelings if he were 
assured that his brethren could not, in good conscience, 
vote for the renewal of his license, but would rather be 
inclined to believe he was mistaken when he thought he 
was called to the work of the ministry. Many men who 
might have lived useful and respected as exhorters, by as- 
piring to the station of preachers, have been the mortifi- 
cation of their friends, the derision of the irreligious, and 
the tormentors of themselves; for no man of sensibility 
can feel comfortable in trying to do what he is not quali- 
fied to perform with some facility. The preceding re- 
marks will apply to the renewal of the licenses of exhort- 
ers who are found incompetent. 

I wish to say a few words on another thing transacted 
in quarterly conference. I fear many men are recom- 
mended for orders, or to travel, merely to save their feel- 
ings; and it is intended that the annual conference, or 
those who will have to represent the persons recom- 
mended, shall bear all the responsibilities and censures 
that may be incurred in the final disposal of their cases. 
This is a very unmanly and unchristian course ; and how 
any man, pretending to religion, can reconcile it to his 
conscience, I know not. my brethren, if you recom- 
mend a man do it honestly, and if you can not recom- 
mend with a good conscience, I beseech you never, no, 
never recommend, 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 281 



CHAPTER XX. 

Duties and importance of presiding elders continued — A little personal 
history — The excellency and wished-for perpetuity of the economy of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church — An address intended for the Illinois confer- 
ence at Bloomington, la., in the fall of 1826. 

The spiritual and temporal business of the Church in 
the presiding elder's district becomes his work, and de- 
mands his strict attention, as a part of his important du- 
ties, according to the Discipline, which he has promised 
to observe. It is his business to see that all the religious 
observances, order, and ceremonies of the Church be ob- 
served by all under his immediate supervision, that every 
thing may be conducted with order and propriety, that 
deep, vital, and lasting piety may be promoted in every 
part of his important field. It is his duty to pay partic- 
ular attention to the minds and manners of the preachers, 
especially the young and inexperienced, that they may be 
a blessing to the Church in her spiritual interests. A 
presiding elder ought to be truly a business man in tem- 
poral matters ; for he has to oversee the temporal inter- 
ests of the Church in his bounds, and they are neither 
few nor small. He ought to use his influence to promote 
the building of meeting-houses and parsonages, and see 
that they are secured to the Church in a proper and safe 
manner, that they may not be wrested from the rightful 
owners in coming years, when they will be more valuable 
than now. The members in a town or neighborhood join, 
in a friendly manner, to build a meeting-house. They 
are careless about a deed ; something causes a rupture in 
the society, and the church property is wrested from 
24* 



282 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

those avIio ought to hold it. All this wrong, and the 
irreligious feelings consequent thereupon, might have 
been prevented had things been attended to in the 
proper time. Therefore, as the trustees of our Church 
property are accountable to the quarterly conferences, 
the presiding elder should be attentive to this thing, and 
use his influence to prevent difficulty. The interests of 
missions and Sunday schools, and the publication of 
Bibles, tracts, and Sunday school boots, at our own press, 
claim his regards and strenuous efforts. I refer to what 
I said, in a former chapter, on the cause of our benevo- 
lent institutions, that I may be saved the trouble of say- 
ing the same things over again. All the preachers in the 
district are to be instructed and encouraged by him in the 
discharge of duty, in promoting the temporal as well as 
the spiritual interests of the Church; for he is to take 
care that every part of the Methodist Discipline be en- 
forced in his district — to which end he must evince that 
he understands, loves, and keeps every part of our econ- 
omy contained in the Discipline ; for in vain will he urge 
others to these things if he be neo-ligent of them himself; 
for the young preachers will pay more attention to his ex- 
ample than to his precepts. From what has been said, 
though imperfectly and cursorily, on the duties of pre- 
siding elders, it is manifest that the station, instead of 
being one of mere ease and honor, is one of much labor 
and inconceivable responsibility. That man who has the 
charge of several elders, deacons, and preachers in the 
traveling connection, spine scores of elders, deacons, and 
preachers in the local connection, and probably as many 
exhorters, and, in some sense, thousands of Church mem- 
bers, must feel a great weight of responsibility, if he 
have that sense of obligation he should possess : and he 
ought to look to God for wisdom and power to go out and 
come in before so great a charge. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 283 

The prosperity of the Church greatly depends on a 
wise, pious, and faithful eldership. Therefore, I would 
exhort the presiding elders to be men of clean hands and 
pure hearts, that they may be a blessing to the Church. 
If any men among us ought to be holy men, who believe, 
teach, and experience Christian perfection as taught in 
the Bible, and explained and enforced by Mr. Wesley 
and his coadjutors, they ought to be the presiding elders ; 
for they have more influence with the young preachers 
and the people than even the bishops, whose extensive 
travels will not permit such social and frequent inter- 
course with their brethren as the presiding elders enjoy. 
My brethren, if you are unwise, unholy, and unfaithful, 
you will be a curse to the world and the Church ; for by 
little and little you will cause the glory of our Zion to 
pass away, and then she may have a name to live when 
she is dead and has lost her power to benefit mankind as 
she might have done. 0, my brethren, never be the 
means of destroying that cause which you are appointed 
and expected to build up ! 

When I commenced these chapters I expected five or 
six would contain all I should write on ministerial duties; 
but I have found the subject so copious that I have found 
more difficulty to compress my matter into twenty chap- 
ters than to have extended it to forty or fifty, as long as 
these have been. This being my first attempt — and, 
for aught I know, my last — to write for the instruction 
of others, I have all the way through labored under a 
deep sense of my inability to present the important mat- 
ters handled, in that clear, forcible, and interesting man- 
ner which they have deserved. If ardent wishes for suc- 
cess will avail any thing, my work will do some good.* 

Q This was written nearly thirteen years ago, since which time I have 
passed through many fiery trials ; hut hitherto the Lord has sustained 
me. I am now becoming an old man, being this day — January 15, 1848— 



284 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

One month more will complete twenty-five years since I, 
with a trembling body, a fluttering heart, and many fears, 
presented myself as a candidate for probation in the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church ; but before I did this I procured 
the book entitled the Doctrines and Discipline of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, which I carefully read and 
weighed, so that I think I acted understandingly in what 
I did. Between twenty-one and twenty-two years I have 
been a Methodist preacher and upward of eighteen years 
a traveling preacher, and one whose situation in life, in 
consequence of moderate circumstances and a large fam- 
ily, has been much of the time as greatly discouraging as 
any man's that I have known, so that it may be supposed 
I have been led to examine the economy of our Church 
with some degree of attention that I might form a just 
estimate of the sacrifices I ought to make for the Church 
to which I belong ; for these, I consider, ought to be pro- 
portioned to the excellency and utility of the Church ; 
and although I have hardly seen one day in more than 
eighteen years in which my heart did not ardently desire 
the peaceful scenes of retired and local life, which is more 
desirable to me than any thing this side heaven, yet such 
has been the sense of the claims of the Church upon me 
that I have not dared to retire. As to the future, I have 
no determination in reference to itinerant life, intending 
to follow the openings before me. If Providence seems 
to say travel, although a great cross and much affliction, 
I will try to travel ; but if the way seems to close I will 
gladly retire. From the few things which I have said 
concerning myself — which I hope my brethren will par- 
don — it will be readily supposed I had heretofore a favor- 
able opinion of Methodist economy; but, after analyzing 

fifty-nine years old ; but, were it not for family affliction, I feel that I 
could yet go out and come in with my brethren in the regular work of an 
itinerant minister. 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 285 

several parts of it, which the writing of this work has led 
me to do, my former favorable opinion has become admi- 
ration, mingled with increased adoration of God, who has 
guided, and veneration for the men who followed his guid- 
ance, in adopting an economy better calculated to make 
an able, faithful, and successful ministry than any other 
which I have ever known or read of. I speak of minis- 
terial training since the days of plenary inspiration have 
ceased. Take a view of the case in a brief manner, and, 
for an example, select one from among our venerable su- 
perintendents. When a young man he joined the Church 
on trial; then a member in full standing; next a class- 
leader, becoming intimately acquainted with the mental 
exercises of a Christian from his own experience and that 
of his class-mates, with whom he converses weekly con- 
cerning their experience ; then an exhorter, whose duties 
require zeal and energy, and give him some experience in 
public speaking ; then a local preacher, choosing his own 
field of labor, in which he expounds and enforces the 
word of God ; then a junior preacher, on a circuit, free 
from the charge, reading, praying, preaching every day 
or oftener, conversing with men of all classes, and having 
use every day for all that he learns, so that learning and 
practice go hand in hand; then an ordained deacon, in 
charge of a circuit, studying and exercising Discipline in 
the Church, administering baptism, and assisting in the 
solemnities of the sacrament, which cause a conscientious 
man to study the origin, nature, and design of Gospel 
ordinances; as a candidate for elder's orders he studies 
to show himself approved; ordained an elder, opposing 
every thing erroneous in doctrine and vicious in practice 
in the charge committed to him, his talents for preaching 
and government are developed, his character established, 
his services needed. He is made a presiding elder; he 
moves in a more extended sphere of labor and usefulness ; 



286 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

he acquits himself well ; his mental and moral worth be- 
come known; his brethren turn their eyes to him as a 
suitable person to superintend the whole work ; he is 
elected and ordained bishop, or general superintendent; 
he travels the length and breadth of these United States 
and territories, ordaining deacons and elders, traveling 
and local; presiding in conferences; with much care and 
judgment assigning his junior brethren their respective 
fields of labor. Although I am a warm friend to all lit- 
erature and science, yet I ask what are colleges and theo- 
logical institutions compared with this course of training 
ministers? I answer, they are poor, time-wasting, mind- 
cramping, heart-freezing, zeal-destroying, soul-neglecting 
things, of which it should be said to every man called of 
God to preach the Gospel, let the dead bury their dead, 
but go thou and preach the Gospel, not with the wisdom 
of the world, but with the science of heaven, and "with 
the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven." On reviewing 
the whole I am ready to exclaim, " De hac ceconomia, 
hicanimus mei dicit, esto tu perpetua:" concerning this 
economy this soul of mine says, Be thou perpetual. 

In looking over some old papers, not long since, I 
found one which I had not thought of for years, contain- 
ing the only written speech that I ever prepared, and 
which I intended to have delivered before the conference 
of which I was a member eight years ago last September ; 
but my heart failed me, and I did not deliver it. As it 
is in accordance with many things in these chapters, I 
will make it the conclusion of the present one, which is 
the last that I calculate to write in regular order on min- 
isterial duties. 

Mr. President, — This is the seventh conference in 
which I have had the privilege of sitting, and in all 
of them I presume I have not occupied more than one 
hour in speaking. I can assure you my silence has not 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 287 

been owing to a want of interest in the deliberations of 
conference, but to my natural and increasing diffidence. 
I hope what I have' said will plead my apology if I should 
now presume to say a few things when we are about en- 
tering into the examination of the characters of the can- 
didates for reception and ordination to the offices of deacon 
and elder. I hardly need tell you, sir, that if there is any 
thing in the universe which I love, it is pure Christianity 
under the modern name of Methodism. Some sixteen 
years ago I made her the religion of my head, my heart, 
and my life, and God is making her the religion of my 
family and my friends. I am far from thinking, sir, that 
my love is a blind partiality, for I believe that Methodism 
possesses excellences that deserve my attachment. When 
I view her doctrines, I am ready to say, they are the un- 
sullied rays of light, and the pure streams of truth issuing 
from the throne of the Eternal. When I view her gov- 
ernment, I am ready to say, it is as good as the provi- 
dence and word of God, and the wisdom of the wisest 
and best of men could make it. When I view her minis- 
try, I am ready to say, it has not been equaled since the 
apostolic age, and I am persuaded if we could hear the 
testimony of astonished thousands and admiring angels, 
we would be confirmed in our opinion. If any ask why 
we think it so excellent, we answer, because God has 
called and qualified it; yes, sir, he has chosen men of all 
grades, from the academic grove, clothed in the gown, 
down to the backwoodsman with the hunting-shirt and the 
rifle; consequently, they are acquainted with men and 
things in every station in life, and are prepared to preach 
the Gospel to all classes of the community. From what 
I have said you will believe me when I say, I do think our 
Church is the glory of all Churches now upon the earth. 
When I look at her doctrines, and see how sound they 
are ; and her government, and see how it is calculated 



288 LIFE AND TIMES OF 

to raise and preserve a holy people ; at her ministry, and 
see the degree of intelligence, the warmth of piety, and 
the fervor of zeal it possesses ; and then turn my attention 
to the world, I am ready to say, world, thou must, thou 
shalt be evangelized; thou must, thou shalt be Method- 
ized. Believe me, sir, if there is a warm desire in this 
warm heart of mine, it is that the glory of Methodism 
may be as extensive as the habitable earth, and may last 
as long as the sun and moon endure. And shall my de- 
sire be granted me ? I declare to you, sir, I have my 
hopes, but I must confess I also have my fears. And if 
any ask on what my fears are grounded, I answer, not 
on the apprehension that her doctrines will cease to be 
preached, for while God says his word shall run and be 
glorified, I have no fears that our doctrines shall leave the 
face of the earth ; neither have I any fear that any deadly 
change will take place in her government, while Jesus 
walks in the midst of the golden candlesticks ; neither 
have I any fears in reference to her ministry while he 
holds in his right hand the seven stars, and while it is said 
many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be in- 
creased; but my great ground of fear is her administra- 
tion ; and I fear a degree of laxity is already discoverable 
in this; and if I mistake not we are in danger from a 
thing in itself really excellent — I mean a desire to enlarge 
our numbers ; and to do this are we not in danger of using 
too little caution in receiving members, and too much de- 
lay in disowning those who walk disorderly among us ? I 
know, Mr. President., that this latter thing is painful to 
our feelings, and we are tempted to pass it by and leave 
it for others, and what are the consequences ? Why, sir, 
the conscientious disciplinarian has so much to do in the 
discharge of his duty, that his mind is depressed, his 
studies are interrupted, and he is almost discouraged ; and 
very often bv delay a whole society is destroyed, or so 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 289 

much injured that it never fully recovers. Now, sir, while 
we admit and elect men to office, I am determined to vote 
more conscientiously than ever I did before in all my life ; 
therefore, I shall expect the presiding elders and others to 
present their preachers before us fully ; not only as it re- 
spects their talents for preaching, but also whether they 
understand and execute the Discipline of the Church, and 
whether they do it mildly and nervously, or rashly and 
loosely. And let me tell you, sir, if any that have had 
opportunity to learn and practice in this particular are 
found to be deficient in any considerable degree, they will 
not get my vote unless they do truly promise to amend. 
Sir, I am no enemy to the young men, for I know the 
heart of a young man ; I remember when I stood trem- 
bling on my examination, when I was received and or- 
dained ; but I say these things for their good. Mr. Pres- 
ident, I have traveled nearly ten years under difficulties 
superior, perhaps, to those of any other brother on this 
floor ; I have read considerable, I have studied considera- 
ble, and I have labored as much as, or more, than my 
constitution could well bear, and I have the vanity — if 
vanity it be — to think I have done some good ; but should 
what I have now said have its desired effect, I shall think 
I have done more good at this time than in all the former 
part of my life ; for if we are faithful in the discharge of 
all our duties, I believe that by our means "the earth 
shall be full of the knowledge of the glory of God as the 
waters cover the great deep." So might it be ! 

25 



290 LIFE AND TIMES OF 



CHAPTER XXI 



Conclusion. 



In writing the preceding work, I have endeavored to con- 
sider the government of the Methodist Episcopal Church 
what it is in fact, a government equally removed from 
despotism and democracy run mad. If rulers were per- 
fect in wisdom and virtue, an absolute monarchy would 
be the most convenient and efficient government, both in 
Church and state; but rulers endowed with perfection of 
wisdom and virtue are not to be found on earth ; there- 
fore, a government giving the people a proper check on 
the rulers, is the safest in the present state of things. 
That the people have sufficient checks on the Methodist 
ministry is very evident, for the very sustenance, honor, 
and usefulness of the preachers are entirely in their hands. 
If, therefore, the preachers were to become obnoxious to 
their brethren, they would be under the necessity of retir- 
ing from the work in which they are engaged. The min- 
istry can not receive or expel members without conforming 
to those rules which are calculated to guard the peace 
and welfare of the Church. In my expositions I have 
endeavored to point out the meets and bounds of clerical 
power and duties in our connection; in doing which I 
have been conscientious, and I am not conscious of having 
presented wrong views of any one rule. I had more 
doubts concerning my views, in which I stated that the 
privilege rested with an accused member to choose whether 
he would be tried by the society or a select number. "A 
Friend to Members*' has animadverted on the ground 



REV. ALLEN WILEY. 291 

there taken, without producing any material change in my 
opinion. As the object I had in view, in part, was to re- 
move all ground of objections to our economy, I may have 
yielded too much to objectors in the position taken. Prob- 
ably the following view would be most satisfactory : in or- 
dinary cases, as a matter of courtesy, let the privilege of 
choice rest tuith the accused, whether he will be tried by the 
society or a select number of them. This will avoid all the 
absurdity that "A Friend to Members" thinks the former 
opinion expressed by me involves, and will, at the same 
time, secure the end at which I aimed — an accommoda- 
tion of feelings of an accused member so far as the safety 
of the Church will permit. 

In the course of my work I have been led to weigh 
myself and my brethren in the balances of truth, as sub- 
scribed by us in our solemn examinations before the con- 
ference when we were received into full connection, and 
ordained deacons and elders, and I discover we are greatly 
deficient. As to myself, I fear I am not a half a Meth- 
odist minister, in the proper sense of that term. My de- 
ficiencies cause me much sorrow, and some purpose of 
amendment ; but 0, how weak and imperfect I am ! My 
dearly-beloved brethren, let us all try to do better by liv- 
ing more for God and the good of souls, which may per- 
ish in consequence of our lack of service. 



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